Strath Haven High School students participated in a spirited Homecoming Pep Rally on Friday, October 25. Organized by Student Council, the event featured a live performance of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” by senior Josie Tolson, a showcase by the Strath Haven Cheerleaders, and a series of games between grade levels, including an eightlegged race, dodgeball, and tug-ofwar.
The rally also included dance routines by senior captains girls and boys, set to popular songs like “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan and “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC. As the pep rally drew to a close, students, teachers, and staff filled the gym floor to dance together to the Cha-Cha Slide and other songs, including Travis Scott’s “FE!N.”*
>P. 9 | READ MORE ABOUT STUDENT COUNCIL’S LEADERSHIP IN HOMECOMING EVENTS
BRING ON THE SPIRIT
Freshmen Paige Steere and Tessa Dignazio wave at Student Council leaders to receive t-shirts during the pep rally. The freshmen’s red t-shirts were the envy of upperclassmen who remembered wearing bright orange during their freshman year.
PHOTO: EVIE FERNANDEZ
District and WSEA agree to contract
District and teachers union are still negotiating on outstanding issues including teacher prep time at the high school. Clark Kerkstra ’27 Haven Happenings Editor
After a protracted negotiation process, Wallingford Swarthmore School District teachers have a contract once more.
At their October 28 meeting, the WSSD School Board approved the collective bargaining agreement between the District and the Wallingford Swarthmore Educators Association, WSSD’s teachers union.
“We are extremely pleased to announce this contract agreement with the district’s teachers,” School Board President Kevin Henry stated in a press release. “We value our teaching staff, and believe that this contract provides a competitive salary structure that will help the district to retain and attract highly qualified educators who are passionate about our students and school community.”
Others on the school board echoed Henry’s sentiments.
“It’s been a long journey to get here, but I think we ended up in a good place,” School Board Member Dr. David Grande said at the October 28 meeting. At the meeting, Henry thanked Grande and fellow school board member Mary Jo Witkowski-Smith for attending negotiation meetings with the union. However, not all of the issues of the contract dispute have been resolved. According to Interim Superintendent Dr. James Scanlon, the District and WSEA are still working to clarify issues over elementary class size and teacher preparation time at the high school.
Throughout the contract, the average salary increase for teachers will be 3.91%. Additionally, starting salaries for new teachers will increase from $54,000 to $61,000, and salaries for the most experienced teachers with doctorate degrees will increase from $109,00 to $114,000 in the first year of the contract, with further increases as the contract stretches on.
The contract involves no major changes to health insurance besides slight modifications in prescription coverage contribution by teachers.
The agreement marks an end to negotiations that lasted almost four months and resulted in public outcry over the treatment of teachers under previous superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille, who left the District prior to the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.
WSEA President Billie Jo McNamara expressed satisfaction with the contract in the District’s press release.
“I believe that those are all resolvable, and I believe that, with making sure this doesn’t hold things up, we’ll get those resolved rather quickly,” Scanlon said at the meeting.
WSEA and the District have agreed to form a joint Labor Management Committee to resolve the remaining issues.
“All WSEA members are looking forward to being able to focus solely on our most important priority which is providing the students at the Wallingford Swarthmore School District with a high-quality education,” McNamara stated.
Other school officials were glad to put the issue behind them as well.
“I’m glad we are putting this to bed,” school board member Michelle Williams said at the meeting.*
>PAGE 3
>PAGE 10
SPEAKING OUT • WSSD teachers applaud as WSEA President Billie Jo McNamara returns to her seat after being allowed to speak at the public school board meeting, despite not being a resident in the district, on Tuesday, August 27. PHOTO: MATTHEW RAMIREZ
EDITORIAL: Not
everything
is about the numbers
Passion is just as important in a successful high school career.
ut if I don’t get over 1300 on my SAT, I’m a failure.”
“I can’t believe I got a 91 on this test, and you got a 94. You’re so much smarter than me.” “I only run 3 clubs and do 2 sports; I don’t think I’m doing enough.”
Many of us have heard ourselves or others say something like this.
Straight from the get-go, many Strath Haven students emphasize the importance of signing up for as many rigorous courses and extracurricular activities as possible.
Signing up for more than you can handle on top of Haven’s competitive nature, leads to stress and panic in students who constantly feel the need to overachieve.
Too much competition “can heighten stress and anxiety, lead to information and innovation hoarding, and break down the relationships needed to ensure student success,” causing declines in mental well-being, according to research by The Deming Institute.
factors—one of which is passion.
Some will argue that involving themselves in as much as possible because they “need to do this much for college” or they “won’t get into [my] dream school/this Ivy League school if I don’t do this.” But colleges don’t just look into the number of activities you’re involved in or the number of AP classes you’ve taken.
Signing up for more than you can handle on top of Haven’s competitive nature leads to stress and panic in students who constantly feel the need to overachieve.
This competition and the need to improve also increase negative comparisons with others around us. We can find ourselves thinking we don’t do enough as our best friend or aren’t as smart or talented as them.
Really, though, most Haven students do more than what time in a school week allows. According to Band Director Mr. Nicholas Pignataro’s weekly “This Week in Band,” 40% of students do a sport and are also in music ensembles, both time-consuming activities on top of physically doing schoolwork daily, many of which are academically challenging.
Additionally, many students are involved in chorus, fifth block club meetings, and other music programs. Many students are at school during fifth block for school help, leading clubs, or preparing for a sports meet, practice, or game—with more staying past fifth block for other extracurriculars, like Mock Trial and Tech Crew.
The reality is that the numbers don’t matter as much as other
TAKE FIVE:
Why do you think our school might sometimes be referred to as “Stress Haven”?
Dyllan Leaf ‘28 Contributor
“I think there is a very strong and high academic structure that kids presented as the expectation. So if a person is not able to accomplish or meet those very high expectations, then it promotes a lot of feelings of stress and trying to meet those standards.”
“I believe [it’s] because of the amount of homework. The school also offers a lot of opportunities, which is great. But on top of those opportunities, the work can become a bit much.”
“Compared to other schools, Haven is a very academically challenging school, and that can make the assignments a little bit more difficult. Our school expects a lot from our students, which can be nice, but also difficult.”
The US News & World Report states that many colleges appreciate applicants more who, rather than having just a “club membership” in a plethora of distinct activities, are involved in a few that showcase their talent, commitment, and leadership in the extracurriculars they choose. This can also apply to AP courses and exams. In another article, “How Many AP Classes are Enough?” Education Week found that a student’s chances of success and receiving good first-year scores in college don’t exactly increase if you take more AP courses and exams.
If signing up for a handful of activities or AP classes isn’t very valuable to you or to colleges who will read your application, why worry about the quantity or the need to participate to have them on your resume? What should you do instead?
Instead, we implore you to take time to appreciate the activities you enjoy and the accomplishments you have achieved instead of wishing you’d gotten a better test score, scored above 30 on an ACT exam, or added more extracurriculars or AP courses than your friend.
Don’t force yourself to sign up for courses and extracurriculars that don’t interest you. Don’t fill up your schedule just to look good when you apply for college or a job.
There is so much more to life outside of test scores, rigorous class schedules, and long lists of afterschool activities. Be happy for who you are and the things you do in this moment, and the rest will fall into place.*
>P. 10 | A BALANCING ACT OF STRESS AND SUCCESS
“I think…probably just the stress of STEM classes. I think there’s a lot of pressure to succeed in those classes…and there’s tests that make or break your grade in those classes. Also, AP tests are mandatory here, so that’s kind of a lot.”
“I think when people are seniors and they’re starting to apply to colleges, a lot of people go to really good colleges that are really hard to get into, which puts a lot of pressure on the younger students or the underclassmen.”*
About The Panther Press is the student-run publication of Strath Haven High School in Wallingford, PA. The Panther Press publishes 500 copies bimonthly in print and is distributed to classrooms and students at Strath Haven High School. The publication is also online at www.shpantherpress.com.
The goals of The Panther Press are to inform, educate, and entertain the student body, faculty and staff, and community readers.
We strive to report and analyze issues that concern students in a manner that is fair, objective, responsible, and accurate.
Through the use of journalism, technology, and workplace skills, the students who lead and create the newspaper develop as critical thinkers and communicators.
All content published in the newspaper and on the Panther Press website is created by Strath Haven students for a primary audience of students, with the understanding that our publication also reaches a broader audience that includes teachers and staff, families, and community members.
The views represented in The Panther Press, as well as the selection and curation of content by the editors, do not represent the views of the entire Panther Press staff, the adviser, the school, or the administration.
Please consult the ABOUT page on our website for additional information.
Submissions
All Strath Haven students are welcome to learn the basics of journalism and become contributors to The Panther Press. Interested students should join the Schoology group to learn about upcoming meetings and training sessions.
Letters to the editor are encouraged. Any reader may submit a letter to the editor via email to strathhavenpantherpress@gmail.com. Anonymous letters will not be published. Editors reserve the right to contact letter writers or edit submissions for reasons of space or clarity.
Sleep-in for PSAT day
+ Gave freshmen time to work on homework.
+ Gave seniors time to work on college apps.
- Sophomores and juniors had to take the exam at 7:35. :(
Teachers working hard on rec letters
+ It’s a lot of work to finish on top of grading and teaching, so kudos.
+ Their support for our futures means a lot. :)
+ Some teachers wrote SO MANY.
Tyler the Creator’s new album
+ New album since 2021!!!
+ All songs were bangers.
- Not long enough.
HOCO & Pep Rally
+ They played ‘FE!N’!!!
+ People were jumping and dancing.
+ Everyone’s fits were so cool.
- Some song choices were questionable.
Sports Playoffs!
+ Super intense and close matches!
+ Student support was there.
- Losses mean the season is over (last one for seniors). :(
Resolution of Teachers Contracts
+Our teachers deserve contracts.
-Took way too long.
+Higher teacher salaries and same lunch schedule! *
REPORT CARD Editors
Our staff also welcomes feedback in the comments section of The Panther Press online or via our social media. Each comment is subject to review by a student editor with support from the adviser. Online commenters on our website must have a verified email address, and comments are reviewed for defamation, profanity, obscenity, libel, and invasion of privacy. Not all comments are published.
Bylines
All contributors are listed in the bylines of stories that appear in print and online. Photography, graphics, art, illustrations, and other creative work will be given attribution. Unsigned editorials, when published, feature the byline of the Editorial Board Social Media
The Panther Press maintains social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter (@shpantherpress) and Instagram (@shpantherpress). The editors-in-chief, managing editor for web, and social media editor manage the social media accounts in consultation with the adviser. We encourage community members to follow us on social media for online posting and discussion of student news.
Our staff members do their best to ensure that social media content is accurate and verified. Any inaccurate information will be corrected with corrections acknowledged.
Social media participants should remember that anything posted in response to The Panther Press social media is public and reflects on our publication, our school, and the poster. Replies and comments will be screened for defamation, profanity, or libel.
Editors in Chief Evelynn Lin ’25 Matteo Ventresca ’25
The forum featured a panel of experts, including students and a teacher. Matteo Ventresca ’25, Clark Kerkstra ’27 Editor-in-Chief,HavenHappeningsEditor
Strath Haven is deciding what to do about cell phones.
On October 29, Interim Superintendent Dr. Jim Scanlon held an educational phone forum at 6:30 p.m. in the Strath Haven Middle School Auditorium.
Scanlon put together a panel that included two high school students, SHHS Interim Principal Mrs. Andrea LaPira, SHMS Principal Dr. Chris Matsanka, English teacher Matthew Wood, two parents from the WSSD community, a researcher, and a leader of a group partnering with schools on mental health policy.
“It’s a good first step in trying to educate people on [the] responsible and reliable use of cell phone and technology because it’s not going to go away,” Scanlon said. “But there are some dangers to too much exposure, and we have to find that balancing point between all of that.”
Scanlon selected Dr. Matthew Kearney, associate director of Penn Medicine Mixed Research Lab, to discuss the impacts of phone use on adolescent health.
Linden Corbett, who commented on their experiences with cell phones throughout their high school years.
“I think it does differ from kid to kid, and I do think as I’ve grown up and gone through the high school, I’ve seen that there’s been a reduction in phone usage,” Corbett said. “But I think there’s been an increase in AirPod usage and a lot of just having one AirPod in at all times.”
English teacher Mr. Matthew Wood was included on the panel and believes that phones have gotten more invasive over the years.
Timeline for Potential Phone Policy Changes
Shared by Dr. James Scanlon
October 29, 2024
Community Forum
“For what I observe as a teacher, the core problem here is that [there are] students who just really can’t help themselves,” Wood said. “I think [I’m] comfortable saying the general consensus is that we need to do something.”
November, December
Teacher, Student Focus Groups
January 2025
Draft of policy changes
February 2025
Recommendation to Board Policy Committee
“The long-term cognitive development is that, ultimately, that phone becomes a real piece of your core identity,” Kearney said.
The panel also included Mrs. Laine Whitaker, Vice President of Professional Learning at Effective School Solutions, to discuss phones’ impact on students’ mental health. Effective School Solutions is an organization that partners with school districts to help them implement effective mental health programs.
“I noticed what this forum really is about, that they’re engaging all the stakeholders involved,” Whitaker said. “They’re going to make a decision, I’m sure they’re going to explain how they arrived at this decision, and now explain what the expectations are going forward, so everyone’s clear.”
On the panel as well were two students, seniors and elected school board representatives Tianyue Wang and
One of the topics at the forum was WSSD’s own electronic device policy, which prohibits cell phones during instructional time but allows them otherwise.
Different teachers, however, regulate the policy to different standards.
“From what I heard at the forum tonight, there seems to be no clear-cut policy or standard in each classroom for expectations of cell phone usage,” community member Lindsay Davis said. “What would be helpful to both teachers and students is setting clear expectations so that everybody knows what that policy is and how to follow it.”
This school year marked the beginning of the “Screens Off, Minds On” initiative at the high school, spearheaded by Interim Principal Mrs. Andrea LaPira. The initiative focuses on enforcing WSSD’s current policy, and LaPira believes that uniformity is important regarding the regulation of phone use.
“We’re either all in or we’re all out,” LaPira said. “Do we want this change, or don’t we? Because nobody wants to be the one teacher who’s enforcing the rules. We need to be a united front.”
Some teachers, like science teacher Mr.
John Lincke and social studies teacher Mr. Pat Keaveney, have utilized phone caddies in their classrooms to help curb phone use, according to Wang and Corbett.
Haven Hold the Phone, a parent group concerned over cell phone use at Haven, has been advocating for a total ban on cell phones in WSSD schools and has recommended the use of Yondr pouches to lock cell phones.
Not all in the community are ready for a total cell phone ban, however.
An argument against banning cell phones has been that the phones are necessary for communication between students and parents during emergency situations. Wang stressed the importance of this, referring to past incidents at Strath Haven of a bomb threat and a student bringing a fake gun to school, causing a lockdown.
“I would be strongly opposed to a total ban,” Wang said.
LaPira expressed satisfaction with the current enforcement initiative.
“As a principal, my job is to enforce the policy that’s currently in place,” LaPira said. “Screens Off, Minds On is an enforcement of that. If we were to go to a full ban, we would certainly support that. I don’t always believe in a one-size-fits-all model.”
Strath Haven Middle School, under the leadership of Matsanka, has implemented cell phone regulations similar to those advocated by Haven Hold the Phone, offering a potential preview of what a ban at the high school could look like.
“We made our policy from 7:50 [A.M.] to 2:30 [P.M.], the kids can’t have their
Voter registration drive helps students register for election Students passionate about voting helped to start and run the registration drive.
Evie Fernandez ’27
Haven Happenings Editor
The voter registration drive ran from October 10 to October 11, where students and a teacher on special assignment Ms. Alyssa Harvey led a table helping students to register to vote digitally or by mail.
“This was actually entirely student-led. I helped run a voter drive two years ago, and I ran it with the siblings of some of the students who approached me,” Harvey said. “This was something that I have to give credit to our student body for because they approached me and asked if I would help, and I was happy to.”
Harvey and the students involved also offered a Wawa gift card as a reward to
one of the registered participants
“I’ve learned that a lot of high school students are confused by the process, so giving them information about how to register– because it can be confusing– is really helpful,” senior Lucy Hewitt, who helped to run the drive, said.
Many of the students who were initially involved with planning the drive also have experience working with Representative Mary Gay Scanlon and other local politicians.
“You get so many kids who are like, ‘I’m not voting because I just don’t want to be involved in that. I’m involved in it once I vote,’ and that’s the end of it,” Harvey said. However, some students are still
enthusiastic about voting.
“I turned 18 a month ago, so I can vote, and I’m very excited because I’ve really wanted to do it for a long time, and it’s always been something that I’m really interested in,” senior Emily Reilly said.
The main goal of the voter drive was to remove the barrier stopping students from voting.
“I decided to volunteer because I think it’s so important to get out and vote. We have this opportunity for a reason, and if you’re going to be 18 before the cutoff, it’s so important that you use it,” Reilly said.
Students are preparing to vote by informing themselves about the main
cell phones out,” Matsanka said.
Matsanka noted the difference the change made.
“It’s night and day compared to previous years,” Matsanka said.
One reason commonly used to support a full ban is the idea that cell phones are ruining social interaction during lunch and recess.
“I want more kids at lunch and recess to socialize,” Matsanka said. “That’s my bigger issue. Middle school [is] a perfect time to make friends, and that just wasn’t happening.”
Matsanka pointed out, though, that the school has put emphasis on messaging as opposed to enforcement. And he takes no issue with kids communicating with their parents while at their lockers.
“You could check your phone to see if a parent texted you or someone texted you and respond at your locker, as long as you’re kind of standing there, then that’s a totally acceptable use of technology and the right use of technology,” Matsanka said. “So I think there is an aspect of us trying to teach kids the right way of using their phones.”
Corbett highlighted the importance of engaging students in the conversation about how to handle devices at Haven.
“My takeaway on how to best engage students is to really appeal to our personal stakes in this issue,” Corbett said. “Just increasing that awareness and increasing the idea that this is for our benefit, as well as everybody else’s, is really important in this issue.”*
issues that the candidates are arguing about and by following election news as closely as they can.
“I want people to make sure that their voice is heard and also make sure that young people know that they have a voice for our country, deciding who is going to run it because it’s not just going to impact later generations. It’s going to impact us too,” Reilly said.
The drive closed on October 11th, and registered students are now ready to vote on election day, November 5.
“Go out and vote, especially in the midterms, not just every four years for the presidential elections,” Harvey said.*
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION • The phone forum panel poses behind the panel’s desk in the Strath Haven Middle school auditorium on October 29. PHOTO: MATTEO VENTRESCA
THE WALL: Songwriter Zoe Mulford describes education, music career
Have you ever stopped to catch a glimpse at the Wall of Honor? We continue a series of interviews of noted alumni with a profile of the artist of “The President Sang Amazing Grace.”
Mark Ball ‘26
Reporter
Zoe Mulford is a songwriter, solo performer, and 1986 graduate of Strath Haven High School who was inducted to the Wall of Honor in 2019.
According to her website, Mulford is best known as the writer of “The President Sang Amazing Grace,” which was later recorded by Joan Baez and voted 2018 “Song of the Year” by Folk Alliance International.
For Mulford, music was always an important part of her life. She started singing from the time she was a small child and began learning the piano from the time she could touch the keys.
“The President Sang Amazing Grace” tells the story of the 2015 attack that claimed nine lives at the Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.
When she attended Swarthmore High School, which became Strath Haven High School during her sophomore year, she was a Camerata member, which, in those days, was a small vocal group that you had to audition for.
musicians, and I would sit on the edge of the circle and play my three chords, and that’s how I learned to play the guitar.”
The guitar players introduced her to the songwriters, and she started getting up on stage with the guitar and performing her own songs. She picked up the guitar in 1993, started her first album in 2000, and released her first album in 2003.
“Nobody has ever authorized me to do this. The only reason I’ve been doing it is because I decided I wanted to, and I’ve been fortunate enough to find people who wanted to listen to me,” Mulford said.
“The people advising me said, ‘You’re smart. Go do something else.’ So I did. I went to Harvard and studied Chinese.”
Zoe Mulford
The people who continued with music after high school were the people who could audition for a music school or a conservatory. She could not get into a music program because she learned very well by ear and her sight reading was weak.
“The people advising me said, ‘You’re smart. Go do something else.’ So I did. I went to Harvard and studied Chinese,” Mulford said.
After she graduated from Harvard in 1991, she moved to North Carolina and started hanging out with people who played the guitar for fun and made string band music. These were musicians who did not read traditional music scores and learned everything by ear.
“I was studying with a teacher who taught me to pick some of these Appalachian tunes, and he would teach me the chords that went along with them,” Mulford said. “And once I had my three chords, he sent me out to the picking sessions to sit with the traditional
She began her music career at the beginning of the Internet, compact disc, and digital recording.
“Making your own recordings had become much easier and cheaper, and a lot of people were doing it, and all of a sudden you could go online, and you could sell your own music,” Mulford said.
According to Avi Wisnia, a singer-songwriter based in Philadelphia, Mulford hosted the first meeting of the Philly Songwriter Circle, which has over 500 members in multiple states.
“She has since helped lead a lot of those workshops, giving invaluable advice to both new and veteran songwriters,” Wisnia said. “She’s really been able to help impart wisdom and help other songwriters shape their songs.”
Mulford splits her time between the United States and England and is a talented multi-instrumentalist. She was also a finalist at the Kerrville and Falcon Ridge Folk Festivals.
“She’s one of those rare artists that combines quality songwriting with wonderful musicianship and an intelligence that allows her songs to speak very loudly even when they’re very soft and soothing,” Wisnia said.*
Mr. Jonathan Hardy resigns as Technical Support Specialist
Hardy will continue to support students on the theater tech crew.
Matteo Ventresca ’25
Editor-in-Chief
Mr. Jonathan Hardy resigned as a Technology Support Specialist this school year but is not leaving Strath Haven High School.
Hardy will continue to support the fall drama and spring musical with support for the tech crew.
“I can still be a helping hand and a foster of creativity for the theater department. That is what I applied for. That’s how I stick around and [make] sure these guys [Tech Crew] can build things out of nowhere, and then people interact with them,” Hardy said.
Hardy has helped many teachers and students with tech problems. He helped students with their Chromebooks and helped teachers with any technological problem they faced during their instructional time. His strategy in the role was to spent plenty of time in classrooms, working directly with teachers and students.
leadership position was a senior,” Gianopulos said. “But he taught me a lot about how to have courage and how to stand up for what I believe in, even when I thought that I didn’t deserve to be in a position.”
The most valuable lesson Gianopulos learned from Hardy was that tech crew often goes unnoticed.
“John [Hardy] has taught me most, and it took me a long time to get it, the best type of appreciation is not being recognized at all, because in our situation, if you were recognized, it’s probably because you did something wrong,” Gianopulos said.
“I can still be a helping hand and a foster of creativity for the theater department.”
Mr. Jonathan Hardy
“As soon as you get an email, show up. Don’t even send them an email, just find where they’re at and be like, ‘Hey, I saw your email. What’s up?’ Put a face to the technology instead of just being a person behind the screen,” Hardy said.
Senior and head of lights for tech crew Olivia Gianopulos has a tight bond with Hardy due to spending time with him in tech during her junior year.
“I didn’t feel like I was deserving of a leadership position when everyone else around me who had a
Senior assistant to the stage manager Emily Crawley has been open with Hardy since she joined the tech crew. She admires his care and advice for what everyone in tech crew tells him.
“I don’t know if the next person could replicate it, because Tony [Hardy] went to school here, and he’s just been with us for so many years,” Crawley said. “We’re like a big family. I would [advise the next person] to get personal and know the students.”
Currently, Hardy has open mornings and uses the time to clean and catch up with family.
“I’m getting ready to paint pumpkins, and I would say, ‘Clean house, clean mind,’” Hardy said. “I’m finishing up my thesis for my master’s degree, so I can’t look at clutter and then think about writing a 50-page thesis.”*
WHOLESOME HARDY • Mr. Jonathan Hardy poses under the spotlight in the auditorium. PHOTO: MATTEO VENTRESCA
zoemulford.com
1986 Strath Haven Yearbook
FEATURED CLUB: Black Student Union provides safe, open environment for all
Starting this year, the club involves healthy discussions about race and planning for African-American cultural events.
Kaitlyn Ho ’26 Managing Editor of Print
Every Monday, markers poised and lollipops at the ready, Strath Haven’s Black Student Union is ready to educate and inform in room 313. Black Student Union (BSU) was born from a simple question from Haven’s new assistant superintendent Dr. Sharon Baddick: Why doesn’t Haven already have a BSU?
“A lot of the things that we try to talk about are a lot of the things that experts try to talk about, like intersectionality and cultural appropriation, just [bringing] different things to awareness,” junior and Black Student Union student leader Elizabeth Mboowa said. “I’m still learning a lot about my African-Americanness through the club.”
Young Activists’ Coalition (YAC) served as a similar club to BSU in many ways. Now, BSU will be taking over some of YAC’s responsibilities, such as events like the Black History Month and MLK Day assemblies.
Jemwa’s elementary school was predominantly white, which was an adjustment for Jemwa when she moved here from Africa. Strath Haven is also predominantly white—75% white, according to the 2024-2025 school profile.
“I wasn’t in this district, but it was an adjustment because I felt like a black sheep,” Jemwa said. “I was around a lot of ethnicities as well, but they were also minorities, so there wasn’t a big population of them. I would say people who I was surrounded by were nice, but I also felt like, even today in high school, I also feel like I’m either underrepresented, or some kids just won’t do the right thing and make fun of people for things that they can’t control, like their culture.”
“A lot of the things that we try to talk about are a lot of the things that experts try to talk about, like intersectionality and cultural appropriation, just [bringing] different things to awareness.”
Elizabeth Mboowa ’26
BSU will also include conversations tailored towards personal experiences with race and identity.
“Not only are they really trying to make sure that they’re creating a safe space for some of these—what can be tough—conversations to take place, they’re also informing kids about what these topics are,” club adviser Ms. Alissa Harvey said. “Not everybody knows what microaggressions are, not everybody knows what intersectionality is.”
Junior and student leader Thandiwe Jemwa was inspired by other affinity clubs like Asian Haven, which held a massive fundraiser through the Fire Noodle Challenge last year. Her goal for BSU is to make a similar impact.
“One of my ideas for BSU was to help, since it’s for the black community, help black homeless people by setting up toiletry bags and having fundraisers for those so we can supply that and give it away to shelters,” Jemwa said.
Freshman and student leader Dylan Blake described microaggressions such as the expectation that everyone can swim in gym class when in reality, certain hair textures are unable to go through the chlorination when recently done.
“I feel like, when you have a lot of white educators and you have a predominantly white population, there’s not really too much room for air. In that sense, I feel like the black education here is not very good,” they said. They also want to reframe what black cultural education looks like at Strath Haven.
“A lot of people, when they hear Black Student Union or Black History Month, they’re like, ‘Oh, they’re just going to talk about slavery and how terrible everything is,’” they said. “These don’t always have to be sensitive topics, so something beautiful for me is everybody coming together and having the courage to have the conversation together.”
Creating something beautiful out of BSU is also a goal of another student leader, sophomore Daija Bradwell. She aims to create a similar environment to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) from her middle school experience.
OPINION: Should high school students read books? Spoiler alert: the answer is yes.
Evie Fernandez ’27
Haven Happenings Editor
The Atlantic article “The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books” has been causing a stir since it was released on October 1st.
The article focuses on opinions from English and humanities teachers at schools like Columbia, Georgetown, and Princeton. The article states that students no longer have the same capability of reading a longer text within the time that they were previously required to.
“It depends on the college you are going to... so there are certain institutions where they will have expected you to be exposed to Homer and Shakespeare and Gatsby. They will just expect that you have that background,” English teacher Ms. Reagan Lattari said.
These same sentiments were echoed throughout the article.
“I think people should read because, especially when you get into college and you have to read a book, you should be able to read said book,” sophomore Taylor Moody said. “Whether you’re reading by yourself or even in school, you’re still getting knowledge. It’s necessary for you to read so you can learn more.”
Because of our shortening attention spans due to screens and the revamp and emphasis placed on standardized testing, college students can’t do what teachers need.
“You know, we want you to read whatever book you want to read just for pure enjoyment to help with that fluency and to help introduce kids back to the joy of reading,” Lattari said.
The hot topic is whether students should value reading classics, like “The Odyssey” and “Romeo and Juliet,” over newer fiction.
“We’re going to force you to read Shakespeare and Homer and those cranky old white men, but then we’re going to balance it and give you time every single day to read whatever you want,” Lattari said.
Reading has many benefits—whatever form you choose to do it in. A study from Cross River Therapy showed that regular reading has been proven to reduce stress by up to 68%.
“I definitely think [reading] helps me become a better writer, and I think it definitely broadens imagination,” sophomore Maggie Peterson said.
“We had a bunch of open conversations in BIPOC, and we could just talk freely, there was no judging, there was no discrimination. Everyone could just say what they needed to say. And I really want BSU to be like that, where we can just talk about anything we need to,” Bradwell said.
All student leaders encourage any students who are interested to show up.
“Anybody else can come and listen to how this stuff affects black students, or literally any other student a part of BIPOC, and we just want to have candid, productive conversations and just bring awareness,” Mboowa said. “There’s a lot of things that you might not even understand that might be affecting you.”*
While it is important to read older books to learn about historical context and learn how to understand older English, I don’t think that the themes in classic literature should be considered any more important than the themes in contemporary literature.
“You know, [reading is] like a muscle too– if you’re sitting down to take a test and you have to read a passage, and you haven’t read anything like that in years you’re not going to do as well as someone who’s used to doing it,” Lattari said.*
PROMOTING UNITY AND DIVERSITY • Junior Elizabeth Mboowa encourages people to sign up for Black Student Union at the Activities Fair on September 8. PHOTO: YEARBOOK STAFF
SHELF OF FAVORITES • A photo of Evie’s ‘favorites’ bookshelf. PHOTO: EVIE FERNANDEZ
Mold in science classroom sparks student concern
Issues with the ventilation caused mold to attack ceiling tiles, pictures, and flags throughout room 307.
Kaitlyn Ho ’26 Managing Editor of Print
Spidery mold was discovered in AP Environmental Science teacher Ms. Kathleen Freeman’s room on Wednesday, September 11.
Senior Christina Si was waiting in line to talk to her AP Environmental Science teacher. After a few seconds of eye wandering, she realized there was something very wrong.
“I look up and the American flag is disgusting,” Si said. “It’s molded and it looks really bad, and it kind of looks like one of those aged documents. It looks like it essentially has coffee stains on it like it’s been there for 50,000 years. I’m like, ‘That is disgusting. What is that?’ So I mentioned it to Ms. Freeman.”
Si started to notice the mold everywhere in the room. When she looked up, there was a basketball-sized mold stain on the ceiling tile above, which was also close to the vent.
“I told my parents about it, I told my family about it, and they were obviously upset, because we were just like, this definitely shouldn’t be happening, and it shouldn’t be happening in a place where we send our kids to be safe and to be at school, to learn. I don’t know why there’s mold growing in a classroom there,” Si said.
it was the most seamless transition that she could make it,” Si said. “But you could obviously tell that some things had to be moved around. The schedule had to be changed a little bit. The learning was definitely disrupted.”
According to a statement from Communications and Community Relations Liaison Ms. Rachel Riley, a malfunction in the air handler damper allowed excess moist and humid air to enter the room, due to being stuck in an open position. The process of inspection and repair was completed within four days.
“There was a ton of bacteria coming through the vents, and also it made the room a lot more humid. It’s just essentially the perfect environment to grow mold in.”
Christina Si ‘25
Other students in AP Environmental Science also felt uncomfortable about the presence of the mold.
“There are other watermarks on ceiling tiles. So it’s like, is that mold? Or is it really a watermark, or is it something else that’s going to kill us all?” junior Amelia Badura, who also sat under, said.
The class was moved to a different room while the mold was cleared out, which Si feels was detrimental to her educational experience at the time.
“Ms. Freeman obviously tried her best to make sure that
Interim Principal Ms. Andrea LaPira stated that a mold abatement company came to test the mold and that Haven’s cleaning service, Metz, assisted in removing the surface mold in the classroom. She also acknowledged the rapid response time of Director of Operations Mr. Bob Maloney.
Si felt that the issue should not have occurred at all.
“There was a ton of bacteria coming through the vents, and also it made the room a lot more humid,” Si said. “It’s just essentially the perfect environment to grow mold in.”
Badura described the situation as unnerving, especially sitting right underneath one of the mold spots.
“We’re breathing in mold since the beginning of the school year. So then, since we only moved out the three days that they were actually cleaning it, it was like, ‘Okay, there’s going to be black mold in everyone’s lungs.’ Obviously, it wasn’t that serious, but we’re all kind of a little panicky,” Badura said.
The school district found no evidence of black mold, according to LaPira.
Freeman declined comment for this story.*
Haven alums share impact of hurricane on college experience
The aftermath of hurricanes brought communities together to rebuild.
Evelynn Lin
’25
Editor-in-Chief
While Haven experienced sunny and higher-than-average fall weather, down south, two hurricanes, Hurricane Helene (Category 4) and Hurricane Milton (Category 3) hit parts of North Carolina and Florida.
According to The Florida Times Union, Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina on September 26. Not long after, Hurricane Milton hit in western Florida, near the Siesta Key, on October 9. Colleges like Appalachian State University and UNC Asheville were flooded, while others experienced torrential downpours.
Though most Strath Haven students weren’t affected by the storms, some Haven alumni experienced downpours, flooding, and emergency conditions at their colleges.
For Georgia Gianopulos, a sophomore at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., she inevitably returned home as the college and the Boone community navigated relief efforts.
Gianopulos lost water, power, internet, and phone in her apartment. After experiencing a full day during the storm conditions, she decided to drive back to Wallingford.
“I was like, ‘I guess, I should go home because these aren’t safe living conditions,’” she said. “Even though I have a shelter and a bed and food, I don’t have water.’ You need water for so many things.”
The flooding caused classes at Appalachian State to shut down for about two weeks, according to Gianopulos.
On the other hand, college freshman
Henry Reacher at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, located in central North Carolina, didn’t experience as much severe weather as the western parts of North Carolina.
“I was not affected badly, like nothing closed in Chapel Hill,” he said. “There was no destruction. Classes weren’t canceled.
There was a lot of rain in September, which was annoying having to walk through that. I had to take a history midterm a month ago while tornado warnings were happening outside. That was the day Helene hit the west of the state.”
Even so, Reacher had friends who were in the area when Hurricane Helene and Milton hit, and the church he sings at has been working on providing aid to those impacted.
“UNC-Chapel Hill was really good at letting its students know that at other UNC campuses, people haven’t been as lucky, so they definitely did a good job at making us aware of the gravity of the situation,” Reacher said.
At Appalachian State, Gianopulos noted how more tight-knit the community has become to ensure people are getting the aid they need to recover.
“I have never seen a community come so together to fix everything,” Gianopoulos said. “I know with volunteering, they even had to stop accepting donations, because they were receiving so many, and I know App State collected a bunch of donation money to give out to students who needed
that, no questions asked, whether you lost a bunch of groceries, or you had bills to pay.”
Gianopulos returned to school on October 16 and while things have mostly returned to normal, Gianopulos noted some key changes caused by the storm’s aftermath.
“Some places are so ruined, there’s dirt all over,” she said. “The nearest craft store we have is Hobby Lobby, and that parking lot is basically just dirt roads now. We don’t have any Targets, and the only store that sells everything like Target does, like groceries and household supplies and clothes is Walmart. But Walmart was condemned because of how much water damage they got, so they have to
tear down the whole building and then rebuild it.”
According to Inside Higher Ed, recovery efforts continue to be underway, with colleges helping take the lead to rebuild communities. Gianopoulos continues to be resilient as she moves forward with the rest of the semester.
“Boone’s not just a college town, like there’s people who live in Boone, and there’s a huge homeless population in Boone, so it’s so scary thinking about how many people have lost their jobs that are keeping them alive,” Gianopoulos said. “That’s been on my mind a lot [since the hurricane].”*
HISTORIC STORMS • Sophomore Appalachian State student Georgia Gianopoulos takes a selfie with a friend while in the midst of torrent downpour. PHOTO: GEORGIA GIANOPULOS
A picture of a patch of mold near the vent in room 307, posted by Christina Si on September 15 and used with permission.
Haven practices earthquake drill
School starts shaking things up.
Luci DiBonaventura ’25
Detours & Opinions Editor
On October 17, the Great ShakeOut program invited schools nationwide to practice earthquake drills. After the Wallingford area experienced an uncommon 4.8 magnitude earthquake on April 5, 2024, the school district elected to participate in this year’s drill.
This drill occurred at the beginning of fourth block at Strath Haven and district-wide. The teachers instructed and informed the students about the drill, and the students then acted out the procedure.
The steps for the drill were simple. Teachers presented a slideshow of the instructions, in which students would get under their desks, cover their heads, and hold on to a table leg.
“I think it was a great opportunity to teach people about a situation when an earthquake would happen.”
“The teachers wanted to know about it, so we prepped people beforehand, told them what it would be, and then made it fairly simple,” science teacher Mr. John Lincke said. “I think it was a great opportunity to teach people about a situation when an earthquake would happen.”
Mr. John Lincke
According to the Great ShakeOut website, ground shaking during an earthquake is seldom the cause of injury. Earthquake-related injuries
are more commonly caused by collapsing walls and roofs, flying glass, and falling objects.
Experts recommend that people experiencing an earthquake move as little as possible to reach a place of safety because most injuries occur when people try to move more than a short distance.
Many students found the drill not only helpful but also exciting.
“I thought it was fun, and we’ve never done anything like this before,” junior Ryan Markey said. “I don’t really think there would be a major earthquake in Pennsylvania, but it was good to be prepared.”
Although earthquakes are unlikely in Pennsylvania, the drills can still be
Recent reports warn new, deadly virus
helpful for students who plan to travel to more earthquake-prone areas.
“Many of my seniors will be traveling, and might end up in earthquake-prone areas, especially along the west coast,” Lincke said. “There, they take things a little bit more seriously because they expect earthquakes to happen.”
Fire, lockdowns, and earthquakes can occur without warning, so it’s important to be prepared and know what to do in such situations.
“Honestly, I was a little scared at first,” junior Jack Logue said. “I’ve never done anything like that before, and I think getting into the mindset of what it would be like if it was real helped me.”*
Bird flu has been creeping its way into populations step by step.
Lavanya Dixit ’27
Sports Editor
Bird flu, a highly contagious viral disease, also known as avian influenza or H5N1 bird flu, has made its way from poultry to the human population.
Growth only continues from there.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that although bird flu has only affected 36 people in the United States, as of the week of October 29, 2024, case numbers had risen by nine.
The recent spikes raise questions about the future of this virus and the growing possibility of a pandemic, but first, it’s crucial to understand why exactly bird flu is making the progress it is making.
“Bird flu is spreading between species. We are getting it from additional mammalian species, not just birds. Now, more people have gotten it from cows,” biotechnology teacher Mr. Timothy Styer said.
The jump the virus can make from birds to mammals is one of the key steps that the virus has completed in becoming a threatening pandemic. However, person-to-person spread has not yet been confirmed.“The key to this is the fact, right now, bird flu can only infect your lungs,” Styer said. “You have to have heavy viral exposure to get it, meaning you have to constantly be around infected animals.”
However, like all viruses, bird flu is constantly mutating. Styer predicts that when, not if, the appropriate mutation is made, a bird flu pandemic will happen.
“The recognition site that the protein recognizes in our lungs when that
mutates, and it can recognize receptor sites in our upper respiratory system, then it will be able to go person to person,”
Styer said. “That’s the last thing that needs to happen for it to go from cow to person and then person to person.”
Styer emphasizes the certainty of this mutation. Bird flu has been on the watch for decades, even before the H1N1 and coronavirus pandemic occurred. Many epidemiologists predict bird flu to be the next pandemic.
“When I first started teaching pandemics, [bird flu] was the next one… [Epidemiologists] are still waiting for this [pandemic], they have been waiting for this one for decades,” Styer said. Hearing this, a bird flu pandemic could raise concerns about a lockdown, which can raise tensions for education, as well. Many students found it difficult to learn to their best capabilities when taking online classes during the coronavirus pandemic quarantine.
A study by Thomas Kane from the Center of Education Policy Research at Harvard University, found that students who spent even just a month learning remotely missed equal to seven to ten weeks of learning.
“Being able to interact normally in class helps make learning easier, and since it was really limited on Zoom, it was a really difficult time for me to be able to learn,” sophomore Roxanna Shelton said. Fortunately, the response to this pandemic is well-centered due to proper preparedness and previous research.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Spirit Week
From October 21 to October 25, students and teachers decked out in pajama wear (Monday), leis and flowery clothes (Tuesday), swapped teacher-student attire (Wednesday), patriotic colors (Thursday), and Homecoming themed shirts (Friday) in spirit of the Homecoming dance on October 26.
Clancy’s 300th Win on Nov. 1 Haven’s 42-0 win over Penncrest in round two of the Media Bowl, in the first round of the PIAA District 1 5A Playoffs earned head football coach Mr. Kevin Clancy his 300th win with Strath Haven.
Preschool Trick or Treating
Childhood elective students guided costumed preschoolers through the Strath Haven halls, receiving little toy trinkets, like witch fingers, bubbles, and rings, from classrooms. Afterwards, the preschoolers and class had a Halloween party.
Marching Band Senior Night
On October 25, Marching Band seniors celebrated their senior night with corsages, sashes and crowns (band front), a photo gallery slide show, and a yearbook-hosted photoshoot with their friends and families.
Halloween Spirit Day
From Disney characters to Beetlejuice, students and staff showed up to school on October 31 in creatively planned and schoolappropriate Halloween costumes.
Superintendent Search
“The scary thing about bird flu is that it has a mortality rate of 50%. But when bird flu does become a pandemic, the increased spread will reduce that rate, and we also have things in place,” Styer said. “We’re ready with a vaccine, and we are very well prepared for type A flu, which is what [bird flu] is. We have research and equipment, we didn’t have that for the coronavirus, but we will with this.”
That said, Styer makes a distinguishing point about the stigma behind the term “pandemic.”
“Pandemics occur; about every 20 years, you will see a pandemic,” Styer said. “We are going to have pandemics every so often. We need to be better about detecting them and getting ahead of them, which we are doing for bird flu.”
Thus, while the idea of a bird flu pandemic may raise panic, it’s important to note that COVID-19 was an outlier. Many past pandemics have been type A flu which have been vastly researched, allowing for quick and accurate response.
Bird flu will be the same deal.
“The thing about COVID was that no one really knew anything about it, and it all happened really suddenly,” Shelton said. “But for bird flu, it seems to be something that we’ve experimented with a lot. The same goes for remote learning. The two things aren’t unknown, so if any outbreak were to happen, I think it would be less about figuring out what to do and more about doing what we have to do efficiently.”*
The School board has continued its search for a new superintendent. A community survey was sent out on October 21 and remained open until November 8. The application will close on November 27, the Board will interview candidates in January, and the final selection will be made in February.
Clubs Demonstrate Halloween Spirit
On Halloween, clubs Best Buddies and Foodie Friends distributed candy-filled boo bags to students and hosted Halloween parties during 5th block.
Drought in October
Pennsylvania declared a drought watch for 33 counties, including Delaware County. On November 1, Philadelphia set a record for consecutive rainless days, surpassing a 29-day streak in November 1874. October was the first month recorded without measurable rain in the region.
Haven Helps Food Drive
The Haven Helps club encourages all students to bring in canned goods to first block classes from November 4-15. Haven Helps members will collect all donations during fifth block on November 18. The first block class who collects the most items wins a breakfast provided by the Haven Helps leadership team.*
Great ShakeOut graphic illustration SHAKEOUT.ORG
TEACHER CREATIONS:
Ms. Sarah Holt weaves creativity into life through knitting
Behind the scenes of her career as a special education teacher, knitting is a special hobby of Holt’s.
Josie Wieland ’26 Arts Editor
Through thick and thin yarn, Ms. Sarah Holt has always been able to lean on her love of knitting.
For Holt, knitting is a relaxing creative outlet that allows her to keep her hands busy, and she enjoys every ounce of the process.
“The feeling of starting a project is really exciting, and so is the feeling of finishing it,” Holt said. “I love making my own wardrobe of sweaters, and I feel really proud of them when they’re done.”
As a teenager, Holt looked up to her grandmother’s craftsmanship and was inspired to start knitting by her influence.
“She knew how to knit, but wasn't a big knitter,” Holt said. “She made quilts and things like that. I taught myself how to knit at 15 years old and was terrible at it, but I just kept doing it, and I got good at it eventually.”
There are a lot of different components Holt has to consider when starting a new
project, and the length of the process is different for each piece she makes.
“For a sweater, it typically takes me about a month, but for smaller projects, I can bang out pretty quick,” Holt said. “It also really depends on the weight of the yarn, like if I’m using thinner yarn or thicker yarn.”
It can be frustrating to have to go back and fix mistakes that were made in the process, but Holt has gained patience from each of the trials and errors she has experienced.
“I'm a really patient person, so I think that's something about me that makes this a good hobby,” Holt said. “I will take the time to go back and fix things to make them right, it’s just a process.”
Holt is always knitting different projects, and each time she makes something it becomes her new favorite.
“I'm really excited about the one I’m working on now. It’s a colorwork sweater. Once I block it it’ll look better,
but I'm super excited about finishing it,” Holt said.
The knitted creations that Holt makes hold special meaning, especially to her husband of nine years, Mr. Christopher McMahon, a 9th-grade English teacher.
“She knitted me a sweater two years ago that is based upon the sweater that the dude wears in The Big Lebowski,” McMahon said. “She tracked down the pattern and created that piece. It's wonderful and warm as all get out, but was not an easy piece to build.”
The intricacy of Holt’s work doesn’t go unnoticed, as Mrs. Jennifer Rodgers admires each woven detail through her perspective as an art teacher.
“Her knitting is out of this world. It is truly a work of art, and her craftsmanship is fantastic,” Rodgers said.
From her extensive experience as a knitter, Holt has grown to accept and learn from each of the ups and downs she runs into.
A closer look at history of Strath Haven murals
The colorful paintings on the walls of our school hold stories and history.
Mia Fagone ‘26
Health & Sciences Editor
With a student-created mural on every landing and multiple throughout the wings of classrooms, installations of art are aplenty throughout our hallways.
Murals, new and old, are some of the first things that students see when they walk into the building. The most recent addition to the mural collection at Strath Haven was painted in June of 2024 by CJ Chen ’24.
These murals add to the community, affecting how we view the building itself and the ways in which students can express their creative freedom through art.
“They’re certainly more pleasant to look at than a plain, beige wall,” Strath Haven High School’s Interim Principal Andrea LaPira said. “I think any time there’s student artwork in the building it always adds to our school culture.”
Chen painted their mural at the end of their senior year. They also had help from members of Fish Club, a club that they pioneered, which focused on learning more about aquatic biology.
“I did it as a part of my independent study last year in the spring,” Chen said. “I interned for this Watershed Protection Team, and so on the days I didn’t drive in and go there to intern, I would just work on painting the mural.”
The painting took about three weeks to complete and is located on the fourth floor. It includes animal species native to the area, such as brook trouts—the state fish of Pennsylvania—and an assortment of local water plant species.
Chen notes that they got help from multiple advisors along the way, including art teacher Mrs. Jennifer Rodgers and
their independent study advisor Ms. Kathleen Freeman.
“I would say, if anyone has any ideas for any project at Strath Haven, the arts department and that kind of community as a whole is really supportive,” Chen said.
Before the painting can start, any mural proposed by a student has to be approved by the principal, and a mock-up is created as an example of what the design will look like.
“They have to write a proposal,” Rodgers said. “What it is is drawings of what it’s going to look like and the location, and then it’s up to the principal to approve it. To my knowledge, they’ve always approved them.”
Some murals were created through various senior assignments, such as senior service projects—no longer a regular practice at Strath Haven—or AP Art Legacy projects. This includes the mural on the landing of the main staircase between the second and third floors, made in collaboration with No Place for Hate.
No Place for Hate is a program created by the Anti-Defamation League, or the ADL, with the goal of combating prejudice and bias in schools and communities.
“I had three students work on that mural to incorporate the No Place for Hate logo with some other imagery to make a mural that was all about acceptance and tolerance,” Rodgers said.
LaPira explained that while Strath Haven no longer partners with No Place for Hate like they did at the time, the ideas immortalized in the mural are still good messages and valued in the community.
Other murals on the staircase landings include one painted during AP Art by
“Your first project, I always say, is not going to be something you're probably going to wear or use,” Holt said. “It's not a thing you're going to be great at instantly, and that's okay.”*
Connor McGaffin ’17, an abstract piece using red, white, and blue. When students walk into the high school through the first floor doors, McGaffin’s mural is one of the first things seen with its location on the landing between the first and second floors.
“When the AP exams are submitted, the seniors in the class then have an opportunity to make a legacy project,” Rodgers said. “That mural is an ode to Strath Haven High School, so in it you can see there’s sort of a very abstracted Panther.”
Other AP Art Legacy Projects can be seen on the walls of the art classroom, with ornately designed art on ceiling panels and portraits on the doors of supply cabinets. Some can even be seen in the Childhood classroom in the third floor Family and Consumer Sciences wing as an overflow of ceiling tile art in collaboration with the FCS department. The oldest mural, however, is a mural in the third floor art and music wing that depicts Martin Luther King Jr. alongside one of his famous quotes, “One day I hope my children can be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content
of their character.” It was painted before the renovations, estimated by Rodgers to predate 1998.
“When the building was renovated in 2001, a new academic wing was built, which is where all your academic classes are,” Rodgers said. “That mural was in the original building. It was not painted over. Most of the other murals were either painted over or destroyed because a new school was built.”
There have been instances of other murals getting painted over, some purposeful and some accidental. LaPira commented on the painting-over of murals, saying that the feelings of the Strath Haven community are always considered before the decision is made. Rodgers recalls one small mural near the FCS classrooms that was painted over during a repainting of the walls on the 3rd floor, raising some questions for people at Strath Haven to ponder.
“When do you paint over them? Do you paint over them? Who paints over them? And then, if they get painted over, do we put something new over it?” Rodgers said. “I think those are all great questions for us to consider as a community.”*
KNITTING KNOWLEDGE • Ms. Sarah Holt proudly poses with an intricate fish motif sweater that she knitted. PHOTO: JOSIE WIELAND
HAVING FUN WITH FISH • Seniors CJ Chen and Aditi Halpe paint a PA native plant and brook trout mural on the fourth story side-stairwell on Friday, May 31 during 5th block. Chen created a mural as a component of an independent study with a conservation nonprofit.
PHOTO: CHARLOTTE HORETSKY
Murals add to the community, affecting how we view the building itself and the ways in which students can express their creative freedom through art.
Student Council hosts ‘A Night in Greece’ homecoming dance
Strath Haven students were gallivanting in Greece with ABBA, Travis Scott, and more.
Zoe Likely ’25
Reporter
On October 26, Student Council set up a “Night in Greece” for this year's homecoming dance.
Homecoming is the only dance every grade can attend without being accompanied by someone else, like for frosh, junior prom, and senior prom. It is also the only dance that Student Council plans in full.
Student Council president Ella Liberi described the work behind the scenes to plan homecoming and the pep rally, which are some of the elected leaders’ biggest events of the year.
“I think I’m the luckiest person ever with the team and the support from everyone on student council,” Liberi said. “ I know a lot of people don’t see it but there’s a lot of work that goes on when planning HOCO.”
Liberi credits Student Council vice president Madison Benzing for the “A Night in Greece” idea that won the student vote for the homecoming theme.
“It was short and sweet, the playlist was good, all things considered, and I admire the Student Council for their work.”
Katsapis’s one critique was the “quest” it took to get water and snacks because the table was outside. However, juniors Samantha Spector and Sophie Jackson have an altering viewpoint.
“I liked being able to get a breath of fresh air and take a break from the overwhelming atmosphere,” Spector said. “It was an amazing dance.”
“I had a really good time. It was short and sweet, the playlist was good, all things considered, and I admire the Student Council for their work.”
Vice presidents Benzing, Josie Tolson, and Liberi needed to keep in contact with teachers, communicate with the drumline, organize donations for food, book the DJ, look for a photo booth, and find the bulk of the decorations for the Parthenon inspired entryway.
Paige Katsapis ’25
Student Council officers and representatives also supported the team as a whole by managing Homecoming Court, ticket sales, events for the pep rally, and decorating the gym.
Seniors named to the Homecoming Court were James Fisher, Tavis Wright-Ferreira, Emily Lin, Eddie Walls, Lara Bruno, Nathan Burge, Annie Dignazio, Hannah Wilson, Zoe Likely, and Sam Sentivan. Fisher and Bruno were announced as Homecoming Royalty during the homecoming dance.
Many students thought that the decorations, lighting, and ABBA really added to the ambiance.
“I had a really good time,” senior Paige Katsapis said.
One thing many students did was dress on theme. If you were at the dance, you saw a lot of white or light blue dresses, blue linen shirts, and some ancient Greek-inspired fashion.
Sophomore Michael Conallen had a fun time at the dance, but wishes he dressed more on theme, perhaps in a toga like senior Ian Cheshire.
Maybe you’re a fan of homecoming, maybe you’re not. But senior Jordyn Thurmond offers one piece of advice to the underclassmen.
“Go to homecoming at least once. It is a little cringy but it’s one night to have with your friends, and in less than five years you’ll never have to do it again,” she said. Liberi is embracing the chance to lead and experience major school events like homecoming.
“I’m trying to enjoy every second of it even though it’s nerve-wracking,” Liberi said. “Get hype with each other, you only get four chances and I promise getting involved is the best thing you can do. It’ll go by quickly and you can’t come back to it.”*
TOP • Senior Cole Mahoney smiles while being in mid-air from being thrown by one of his friends off to the side of the mosh-pit. “I thought that homecoming was very fun. The music was great, and it was fun dancing with my friends,” Mahoney said.
BOTTOM • Senior Tavis Wright-Ferreira poses for a picture while standing inside of the mosh pit. “I think homecoming was a very awesome event because people got to get together, seniors got to indulge more and enjoy their last year even more,” Wright-Ferreira said.
PHOTOS: NICOLE MACDONALD
Leah Reece spends summer studying from Broadway
Sophomore discusses her experience at an intensive theater program.
Calpurnia Fries ‘27
Contributor
Sophomore Leah Reece has been involved in dance and theater since the first grade.
Over the summer, she had the unique opportunity to spend four weeks living in a dorm room in New York City and train with Broadway professionals.
The program, IAMT or The American Institute of Musical Theater, is an acceptance-based intensive located in Washington Heights, New York City. It offers extensive training in dance, vocal performance, and acting.
“On the first day, we had dance placements, and I got into advanced at only 14 years old. The other students that I was working with, they were all 16 up all the way up to 22 years old, and having that opportunity to work with people that have a lot more experience than me was really valuable,” Reece said. Reece is especially thankful for her chance to work with Broadway professionals, including Jennifer Geller (Hamilton, Bring it On), and Michael Minarik (Matilda, Les Miserables), among others.
“It was a really incredible opportunity and experience because I got to work on even more styles than I ever worked with before,” Reece said. “I got to work with people that are in shows like ‘Illinoise,’ ‘Hamilton,’ ‘Chicago,’ ‘Back to the Future, ‘all different shows like that. It was really
incredible.”
Math teacher and director Ms. Roxanne
Everly is currently working with Reece on the fall play, Harvey by Mary Chase, in which Reece is playing the lead role of Veta Louise Simmons. This is the third show they have done together.
“Leah and I work really well together,” Everly said. “This show in particular, I've had this building relationship with her, because I'm the director now, and I'm not just the assistant director, or just somebody hanging out. She's really great about asking for feedback, and also giving you ideas that we can discuss and come to a conclusion of what we want to do.”
Reece believes this summer was pivotal in her perusal of theater, not just in technical growth but also in its effect on her confidence and attitude.
“To go through this opportunity to be able to get accepted into a place like IAMT at 14 was really incredible, and really a confidence booster because I've really struggled with finding my selfconfidence as a dancer,” Reece said. “No matter how young you are, you should always believe in yourself and don't let anyone stop you from being yourself.”*
DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY • Sophomore Leah Reece dances in the spring 2024 production of “Mean Girls,” expressing her skills through a group dance. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE HORETSKY
Students cope with stress over academics and extracurriculars in Strath Haven’s competitive environment.
Imagine you are required to review your first big freshman English assignment in-person with your teacher. You can’t stop worrying about the assignment on the morning of the day of your scheduled meeting.
You made it through your first and second block classes, but you couldn’t stop thinking about the assignment, about not being ‘good enough’ and had to
Class levels
Strath Haven classes operate on a two-level system. In all core subjects, honors and college-prep classes are available. Some classes also offer an AP (advanced placement) version as an extra challenge.
In one notable case—a pilot AP Precalculus class that is running simultaneously with Honors Precalculus this year—students can choose which level of the course they want to take.
“If you’re up for more challenge, or if historically you’ve done really well in a college prep environment, and you’re at the end—you’re a junior or senior in high school, you want to take on the additional challenge and go for it, we want to support it,” Benzing said.
“If you’re up for more challenge, or if historically you’ve done really well in a college prep environment, and you’re at the end—you’re a junior or senior
EXTRACURRICULARS
Aside from academics, many students partake in the wide variety of extracurricular activities Strath Haven offers. As Director of Athletics and Extracurriculars Lynelle Mosley puts it, “there’s something for everyone.”
However, this can sometimes cause students to feel as if they aren’t doing enough.
“I think that Strath Haven definitely creates an environment where you can do a lot of things, and because you can do so much, I feel like you do feel pressure to do extracurriculars,”
go to the counselor’s office to decompress.
After all the stress and worry, you got a 98. Or you didn’t, and the cycle starts again with the next assignment.
Strath Haven is an incredibly competitive school. At least, that’s what our school profile says.
“Students are extremely active in the arts, athletics, clubs, and extracurricular activities, including service… Due to
the nature of the school community, students work in an intensely competitive and enriched academic environment,” the profile states.
But sometimes, academics and extracurricular pressure can conspire to cause stress for students.
“I think it’s a pretty academically driven school,” Director of STEM Teaching, Learning and Innovation Andrew
STANDARDIZED TESTS
in high school, you want to take on the additional challenge and go for it, we want to support it,” Benzing said.
There exist some drawbacks of having different course levels.
“If somebody has really high standards [for themselves], and they always have to have straight A’s, then I think if they’re not in honors or advanced classes that could make them doubt themselves,” sophomore Kathryn Kudrick said.
Though there are pros and cons, class levels were created to give students an option about how they want to challenge themselves.
“I think the intent and the beauty of this four by four schedule we have here is that it is supposed to and by design is supposed to facilitate when a student has a passion in a particular area, they can take up to eight courses in that area,” Benzing said.
One of the biggest extracurricular activities at Strath Haven is the Panther Marching Band, which over 300 students participate in—whether playing an instrument, dancing, or tossing flags. Band is considered a class, and students are expected to report to fifth block sessions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
“I know we share students with other music classes, chorus for example, so we have tiers for them where we expect them to do more when they come back, [students] have to work 20% harder than they would if they didn’t miss yesterday’s class,” band director Mr. Nick Pignataro said.
Fifth block is also used as time to catch up on classwork and study. Test corrections and homework help often
Standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and PSAT can also serve to stress out students.
A source of stress for sophomores taking the PSAT is that many of them haven’t finished geometry, which is included in the test’s math section.
“[The math on the PSAT] definitely psyched me out. I was really nervous to do it,” Kudrick said.
Many upperclassmen prepare to take the SAT, raising stress levels for some students. One of the things that causes stress levels to rise among students is the comparison of scores.
“I think people compare their scores a lot,” senior JJ Bohr said. “I know some people inflate their scores, and some people I know who have good scores don’t think they’re good enough because of how much they compare their scores to others.”
In 2020, colleges became testoptional to accommodate students who could not test during the pandemic. Over 80 percent of colleges nationwide are still test-optional.
“I think it’s good schools are going
have to be done during fifth block, but mandatory activities can force students to choose between their passions and their academics.
Students are also involved with many other extracurricular activities, including clubs and sports, which can become overwhelming.
“There’s not really one big stressor,”
sophomore Markus Johnson said. “It’s more like the combination of cross country, music, and school. I feel like if there are only two or three, I can do it, but sometimes it gets a little much.”
However, many extracurricular activities can provide stress relief, according to art teacher Mrs. Jennifer Rodgers, who also advises art club.
F or Haven students juggling academics, extracurriculars, and the stress of standardized tests, the pressure’s on.
According to Benzing, Strath Haven’s competitive environment can lead to a perspective problem.
Benzing said. “We try to balance it out with all the activities. But even then, we find a student does a lot of activities and a lot of academics, and inadvertently, all of a sudden, we cause a lot of stress, which was the whole point of us trying to get them involved in activities.”
test-optional,” junior Porter Broome said. “Students who might not do as well on standardized tests or study well for it don’t have as much pressure to submit their scores.”
Now that the pandemic has ended, however, some colleges and universities have rolled back their test-optional policies.
“I think [students] should just plan accordingly, so if they know that they have to get a certain target score to meet the requirements for admission at one school, they should put some effort into a prep class, or maybe take the test more than one time to get a satisfactory score,” English teacher and SAT tutor Ms. Reagan Lattari said. “The pressure [should be] appropriately placed based on what their plans are.”
But for busier students, it can be difficult to find the time for SAT prep. “A full practice test takes hours,” Lattari said. “They need the time to prepare, but they don’t really have the time to prepare.”
“I think Art Club is the opposite of a stressful environment,” Rodgers said. “I see a bunch of people relaxed. They’re making their own art, which is what is nice about Art Club. Some people are there for their friends, and some people are just there by themselves.”
Strath Haven also offers many sports teams as another extracurricular option for students, which can serve to relieve stress as well.
“I feel like when you go to sports, you let go of whatever has been bothering you,” Mosley said. “It gives you another focus, and it’s a fun focus.”
“We get this tainted sense of what achievement is,” Benzing said. “I think achievement should be relative to each individual student’s growth. … You have to keep in mind your mental health and what makes you happy.”*
Cantata choir returns to New York City
New choral director continues a Haven tradition of over three decades.
Matthew Ramirez ‘26 Managing Editor of Web
Since 1993, the Strath Haven Cantata choir has been traveling to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine to perform in the mass of the Feast of St. Francis Day celebration.
The choir, which was previously under the direction of Mr. John Shankweiler, who retired in June of 2024, again traveled to New York, but with a new director, Mrs. Lindsey Reinhard Silva.
“This was my first overnight trip as a public school teacher,” Silva said. “I was really excited to take the students.”
New to Haven and WSSD, Silva adopted all three of Haven’s choral ensembles: Camerata, Cantata, and Silvertones. This also meant continuing traditions, like the Cantata trip, with current and new students.
“I know that many had done it before, but I also know that different people have different styles of going on trips,” Silva said. “I felt really great with the attitude of everybody going into [the trip].”
Preparation for the trip and mass began weeks prior with Cantata members rehearsing with Silva during fifth block and Sunday afternoon sessions. Rehearsal times were not only used to teach the music to new students but to also help older students regain a familiarity with the music.
“Students had sung this piece before, but I feel when we went to start rehearsals, I noticed a gap in perceived knowledge of it versus the actual, ‘Oh yeah, I really am confident in my voice’ part,” Silva said.
The continuous rehearsal process with Cantata helped members learn the music effectively, benefitting the masses in New York City.
“I was like ‘let’s take the opportunity to really break it down and learn this piece from the inside out,’” Silva said. “I feel like that approach made us a lot more successful when we actually got [to the mass], it was a pretty intense process for the first few weeks of school, but I think it got us to a good spot.”
For many, including freshman Scarlett Rein, Cantata members look back on the rehearsal process.
“We did a lot of work leading up to it,” Rein said. “We had a Sunday class and rehearsals and it was pretty easy.”
After a 2-hour bus ride on Saturday, October 5, into New York City, Students arrived at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine where they dropped off their personal overnight belongings. From the cathedral, students made their way to Midtown Manhattan, via MTA New York
City Subway.
In Midtown, students ate lunch and then watched the afternoon showing of the Broadway show
‘Once Upon a Mattress.’ Before a three-hour evening rehearsal for the mass, students watch a show, a choice made by Silva.
“I wanted to pick something that was not gonna leave me crying for the rest of the afternoon,” Silva said. “I looked at the rest of the cast, and I was like, ‘Holy cow, this is such a starstudded Broadway production.’”
After the show, students made their way back to Uptown to the cathedral for a three-hour rehearsal with the instrumentalists and other members of the greater chorus for the mass.
“The music is very beautiful,” sophomore and tenor Louis Lanza said. “It was very interesting to sing in a space where you have to only rely on the conductor instead of what you hear.”
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, constructed in 1892, has a floor area of 121,000 sq. feet with a building length of 601 feet, making it the largest church building in the world.
The Cathedral, head of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, celebrates St. Francis Day, where the Blessing of the Animals takes place. The music of Paul Winter’s Missa Gaia complements the celebration.
After a night of sleeping on the gym floor, the mass took place the following morning on Sunday, October 6. The mass is open to the public and people can bring their pets to participate in the Blessing of the Animals.
“I don’t think anyone made a really noticeable mistake, it was very smooth running,” Lanza said. “Dogs were barking constantly, it was really funny.”
After the rehearsal and a small lunch break, students loaded onto a bus back to Wallingford.
The trip offered students a unique experience which Silva hopes will continue soon.
“I’m really looking forward to more opportunities to travel students,” Silva said. “I think getting involved with the community is a really important thing, and you learn a lot when you’re not at home.”
For the many members of the choir, they hope to return to New York City next year.
“I would totally want to do it again, that’s my goal,” Hein said.
“I want to be in it next year, it was so much fun.”*
the mass.
2 • Cantata choir members climb the interior stairs of the Cathedral of St. John Divine where they would locate the choir room to drop off their bags, sleeping materials, and other overnight necessities on the morning of Saturday, October 5. Students would eventually move their personal belongings to the gymnasium of the cathedral school, located in the crypt of the cathedral, where they would spend the night on the hardwood floor with mats and sleeping bags.
3 • Cantata choir director Mrs. Lindsey Reinhard Silva stands in concentration as she distributes ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ Broadway tickets to students outside of the Hudson Theatre on Saturday, October 5. The choir watched a Broadway show to compliment their Sunday performance at St. John Divine.
4 • Performers of the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre Company wave decorative flags at the end of the song “Canticle Brother of Sun” during the mass.
5 • Sophomore Molly Loyd shakes maracas alongside a street performer in the Times Square-42nd Street subway station. The choir used the New York City subway system to travel throughout Manhattan, including their trips from Broadway back to the Cathedral. “I was jigging it out and he gestured the maracas, to play the maracas,” Loyd said. “I think its like a message to the world, be a little adventurous.” PHOTOS: MATTHEW RAMIREZ 1 2 3 4 5
1 • Soprano Cantata members sing during the Feast of St. Francis mass in the Cathedral of St. John Divine on Sunday, October 6. The choir was a combination of various singers which included Strath Haven Cantata, The Cathedral Choristers, choirs from Villanova University, surrounding schools, and people who wanted to be part of
Cast, crew & staff prepare for opening of fall play
Harvey cast, crew, and staff members reflect on their past months of rehearsal, and share what is to come.
Dyllan Leaf ‘28
Contributor
Beginning on November 14, the community will have the opportunity to see the comedic drama “Harvey” performed in the Strath Haven High School auditorium.
The production of the 1944 play by American playwright Mary Chase has been in the works for nearly two months, since mid-September. It will be running for two weekends.
Students taking part in this production have been hard at work both on stage and behind the scenes.
The set crew has been working especially hard to bring the world of “Harvey” to the Haven stage.
“Harvey”
members agree with just that, and many other students describe just how comedic their performance will be.
“It’s a comedy, and we have just been laughing so hard and having so much fun with it,” Beck said.
All shows at 7 p.m.
Compared to the plays produced in the last few years, Harvey is much more modern. Last year’s play was the Shakespearean classic “Romeo and Juliet.” Everly believes that this might be a positive change.
Thursday, Nov. 14
Saturday, Nov. 16
Thursday, Nov. 21
Saturday, Nov. 23
“There’s been a lot of building of the set,” theatre head and senior Emily Beck said. “And people have been seeing that throughout the school day.”
Beyond the set, there are many other key players in this production that are not seen on the big stage. Director Ms. Roxie Everly has been hard at work to bring this storyline to life.
“Essentially, the main character’s best friend is this imaginary rabbit that obviously no one else can see,” Everly said. Beck plays the main character, Elwood P. Dowd. Alongside him is his sister Veta Louis, who will be played by Leah Reece. Many supporting characters are featured throughout the play to tie it all together.
Across the span of the story, a variety of comedic errors ensue, resulting in what student director Louis Lanza describes as a “hilarious” show. Many cast and crew
“Some of the shows in the past few years have been more classic… and I know that’s not some people’s cup of tea, but I promise this is a more modern show that more people will enjoy,” Everly said.
Many cast members are very excited about this change of pace and would love it if students, friends, and family came out to see the production they have been working so hard on.
“People should come see the show because it’s hilarious. The actors and actresses are amazing. We put a lot of effort into it, and it’s a really good time,” Beck said.
Harvey opens on Thursday, November 14 and will have a total of four performances before its closing on November 23.
“Please come out to see it. It costs like five bucks, and it’s going to be hilarious,” Beck said.*
Panther Marching Band members reflect on Penncrest Festival of Bands
The 300-member marching band showcased their drumline and halftime show to an audience of other high school marching bands, and community members.
Rebecca Knob ‘28
Contributor
The Strath Haven Panther Marching Band attended the Penncrest Festival of Bands at Penncrest High School on Saturday, September 28.
The SHHS Marching Band went to the Penncrest Festival of Bands to watch other bands and showcase their drumline and halftime show. At the festival’s end, they went on the field with the other bands to collectively perform “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC.
Attending the Penncrest Festival of Bands was a chance for the band to showcase all the hard work put in throughout the season. Band Director Mr. Nicholas Pignataro enjoys going to this band event and loves seeing the other bands perform.
“It is my favorite event of the year. It is the one I am the most stressed about every year because a lot of my colleagues are there. I’m glad to see so many students have smiles on their faces while we were there,” Pignataro said.
Pignataro always wants the band to try their best and he was pleased with the results from Penncrest.
“It was the most energetic performance which is odd because it wasn’t during a game situation. Maybe it was because there’s all these other bands that play well or maybe it was just a truly fun-loving music audience, but whatever it was it was really hype,” Pignataro said.
After the band’s performance, the judges provide feedback in front of the students and band directors.
“I thought that actually the feedback was an improvement from last year’s feedback. We fixed a lot of
things that they said to us last year so that’s kinda cool,” Pignataro said. “With Mr. Bugosh saying that this was the best Strath Haven band he has ever seen, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
The activities that were offered prior to their performance were a highlight of the event.
“My favorite part of the festival was doing the scavenger hunt and getting to walk around and meet all the different people from the other bands and getting to talk to them,” freshman mellophone player Kate Susek said.
Getting to watch other bands perform was different for Strath Haven because they are used to only seeing one band perform at halftime.
“They all had different like movements and music which were really cool, and the flags, they were all different colors and they were very good,” freshman Lucy Dolle said.
Strath Haven’s performance brought lots of energy and was a valuable experience that allowed for growth.
“I got all my moves right and my steps were very clean and during Spice Up Your Life my dance moves were amazing; it was just great overall,” Dolle said. *
BATTLE OF THE BANDS • TOP: Strath Haven and Penncrest band members cheer their drumlines on during the anual drumline battle. BOTTOM: Strath Haven Marching Band gets feedback from judges at the Penncrest Festival of Bands on September 28. The band sat all together while they listened closely to what the judges had to say. PHOTOS: MATTHEW RAMIREZ
TOP: Judge Omar Gafney and William R. Chumley discuss the situation with Mr. Elwood P. Dowd. RIGHT: It’s official! Strath Haven Theater recently posted this OFFICIAL Harvey poster to their instagram account. LEFT: Elwood searches his home for invaders as he also tries to find his “missing” friend Harvey.
BAND BEAT: Behind the scenes of Panther Marching Band leadership
Drum majors, drumline, and roadies share their roles in the marching band.
Kate Santee ’28
Contributor
Marching band director Mr. Nicholas Pignataro, drum majors, band volunteers, and drumline members share their experiences in the 2024-2025 Panther Marching Band Season.
Drumline
The drumline devotes its time to the band and goes through a difficult audition process. Drumline can be a very important part of the band, tying the band together. Drumline members need to work well with each other because of the variety of skills each one possesses.
“When we screen them for auditions, they perform for [drumline director] Mr. [Gusten] Rudolph and he’s not looking for the best drummer, but he’s looking for drummers who are working hard, and that’s the key,” Pignataro said. “So hard work, [be] willing to put in a lot of time, a steady beat, and ability to read notes are very important.”
Rehearsals and performances show the drumline’s hard work and dedication to the marching band. According to Pignataro, drumline members must have a certain mentality to be strong and successful in their field.
“They are some of the hardest-working students of our band,” he said. “They rehearse longer, show up earlier, and leave last, and they all have musical skills and the potential to grow as musicians.”
Snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and quince were all possibilities for the auditions into the drumline. Rudolph holds auditions before band camp to decide the places of students he wants on the drumline.
“Mr. Rudolph gave us ‘Motown Opener’ to see the techniques we could use with
the drums,” freshman Jon Hoffman said. “He wanted to see where people were at to decide where to place people.”
Drum Majors
Drum majors also dedicate their time to marching band every year. Many students in the marching band look up to the drum majors for leadership. This year’s drum majors are seniors Quinten Saylor, Olivia Heisey-Terrell, and Cecily Heisey-Terrrell.
“Everything that is a gigantic task... I utilize their time for things like going over big decisions with them or having them cut music for me. I always need them there for the band and myself,” Pignataro said.
Pignataro trusts the drum majors to do anything and everything that may help the band be the best that they can be. Therefore, a drum major’s characteristics are specific.
“I’m looking for somebody who can unite the band, I’m looking for somebody who works well on a team, and I’m looking for someone who I can trust in my absence,” Pignataro said. “I am also looking for someone who I can give a hard time to and they’re not going to break down.”
Olivia Heisey-Terrell shared what the process of becoming a drum major looked like through her experience.
“The audition process was kind of scary. We had to submit an application online sharing things about yourself and what you’ve done,” Heisey-Terrell said. “If we made it on, then we had an interview with the executive counsel from last year and we had to do some conducting for the symphonic band.”
Although it took hard work to get to where she is now, this marching band season has been a valuable experience for Heisey-Terrell.
“I think I like being responsible for the band and conducting is really fun,” she said. “Being there and using my skills for the band in that positive way really drew me to the position.”
Roadies
Throughout the marching band season, band volunteers, also known as Roadies, assist in the 300-person marching band. Roadie Cathy Dunn shares why she volunteers her time, and what types of tasks she completes during the season as a band volunteer.
“I was looking for a way to volunteer with the school,” Dunn said. “I help assist with equipment, especially uniforms, for example, giving things out to students before they perform and being a chaperone on the buses.”
Haven performs in Media Halloween parade
The
The Roadies are a long-standing tradition that is part of the SHHS band boosters organization.
“They are very happy to work with me and give me whatever I need. They are angels and incredibly selfless,” Pignataro said.
Watching the students in the band grow with each other has been a joyful experience for the Roadies. Dunn shares what she has gained while being a Roadie. “One thing I learned from doing this is about the fabulous band we had. It’s been wonderful to see it up close and to see the leadership and teachers,” she said.*
Reporter is a member of the Panther Marching Band.
Panther Marching Band takes to the streets of Media for this year’s Halloween Parade.
Nico Hopkins ‘27
Contributor
While wearing superherothemed masks, the Strath Haven Panther Marching Band performed in the Media Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 26.
Annually, the Panther Marching Band performs songs for the parade. This year, the band showcased the hit Michael Jackson song ‘Thriller,’ and ‘Spice up Your Life’ by the Spice Girls.
“It [parade performance] feels so rewarding,” marching band director Nicholas Pignataro said. “The joy that the little children have on their faces and the comments we hear when we go by makes everything worth it.”
breaks and hopes to implement them more in the future.
“We have a new normal. I think we figured out something that works, we’re going to have to have dances in every Halloween Parade now.”
Mr. Nicholas Pignataro Band Director
Pignataro enjoyed watching the audience’s reaction to the songs and dance breaks in the performance.
“The audience at first didn’t know what to expect, and then I’ve never heard them cheer mid-song. They did every single time,” Pignataro said. “We have a new normal. I think we figured out something that works, we’re going to have to have dances in every Halloween Parade now.”
Senior drum major Quinten Saylor has a similarly positive view on the dance
“It might have been pretty tiring after a while, but from what I heard from the public, it was very well received,” Saylor said. “A lot of people really liked the addition. I remember after we’d do the dance break, and get back up, people would start cheering and clapping, so I think that’s what’s the really important part, people loved it,” Saylor said. In some aspects, parades are easier than compared to halftime shows, according to Pignataro. “Personally, all I’ve got to do is walk around and look great, right?” Pignataro said. “What is challenging, though, about the parades is stamina. So they have to play a lot constantly, and you don’t get a redo.”
Pignataro said that compared to halftime shows, where the audience sees all three songs, and parades, each time you play, each individual is experiencing the performance for the first time, which puts on lots of pressure and is very tiring.
Saylor also notes that parades, despite having some annoyances, can still have plenty of fun aspects.
“It all depends [on] how you look at it. If you count waiting an hour on a field, waiting to get started, that’s one way to look at it. But another way to look at it is, you get to socialize with your friends. I know some people started some stand songs by themselves. You can make it fun,” Saylor said.
The audience response makes it worth
the extra weekend time for Pignataro. “I will say that when I go into a parade, I think, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s Saturday morning. Why do I have to be here?’ And then I see the faces of the people who watch us just light up, and it makes everything worth it,” Pignataro said.*
Reporter is a member of the Panther Marching Band.
DRUMMING AWAY • Drumline performs with the marching band during their halftime show in the home opener against Radnor on September 13. PHOTO: MATTHEW RAMIREZ
SUPERHEROES ON STATE STREET • The Panther Marching Band marches along State Street in the Media Halloween Parad on the morning of Saturday, October 26. PHOTO: MATTHEW RAMIREZ
Philadelphia Young Playwrights program renewed at Strath Haven
WSSD’s long-standing relationship with Philadelphia-based program continues with renewed focus on diversity. Fiona Seale ’28, Morgan Matthews ’28 Contributors
The Philadelphia Young Playwrights fall showcase opened on October 29 at the Temple Theater. Freshman Joya Nath’s play “Renewed” was featured in this year’s showcase.
The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District has had a rich history with the Philadelphia Young Playwrights organization, a partnership that was renewed this year after discussions at a school board meeting.
The Young Playwrights Class is offered at Strath Haven Middle School for eighthgrade students. Students work with their teachers on developing writing skills. At the end of the semester, each student submits a 30-page play to be read and evaluated by a panel. These judges can choose the works that stood out to them from schools all over the area. Nath’s play was selected this way.
“It’s an elective that you could take in eighth grade, and we worked with our teacher, Ms. Eleanor Salgado,” Nath said. “It was over the course of a semester. And you see the process of how playwriting is different from typical writing. You get to do a lot of these creative workshops.”
There have been several winners in the past who were Haven students including Laila Kelly, Sarah Bagonis, Clark Kerkstra, and now Joya Nath. These students either won mentorships or spots at a showcase like the one opening.
These young playwrights participated in additional programs after taking the course. Nath is involved with the direction her play is going in before the
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:
final showcase. “I got to help with casting, I got to help direct, and they really try and make you feel like you have as much control as possible over your writing and how it’s portrayed on stage. So it’s been really cool,” Nath said.
Eleanor Salgado has been teaching the immersive, creative class for 35 years, but with her recent departure from the district, middle school teacher Chris Sparks will be taking over her responsibilities.
“Ms. Salgado is the main reason why I love doing it,” Kate McGrath, a teaching artist for Philadelphia Young Playwrights, said. “I love the students. I love the fact that she pushes them to do a lot of writing. I just met Chris Sparks, who’s the faculty member who’s taking over. He seems really great. He’s got a treasure trove of things that Eleanor left for him.”
McGrath works with many schools in the area but has maintained a strong relationship with the program at Strath Haven.
“I have found that as I work with students, especially people who are just so advanced and mature, like Strath Haven students, it feeds my work as an artist as well,” McGrath said.
The program was renewed this year after discussion at a school board meeting on September 23. Board member Mary Jo Witkowski-Smith voiced her enthusiasm for the continuation of the program.
“I’m just thrilled that we’re continuing the young playwrights program,” Witowski-Smith said at the meeting.
“In my experience, this is just a fantastic opportunity for our children to express their creativity.”
The main concern of renewing the program was the lack of diversity in children taking the elective. Board member Nannette Whitsett stated that the playwrights class has been predominantly composed of white students.
“On the Philadelphia Young Playwrights agreement, I just want a definitive answer on will black and brown and underserved, underprivileged students be more than encouraged, through their counselors and teachers, to see the gift that each child has in their classroom and give them a chance that has historically been a predominantly white class,” board
Nannette Whitsett said.
A fellow board member assured Whitsett that they would speak with counselors and school leaders to ensure diversity would be cultivated in the program.
According to the Young Playwright organization’s agreement with Strath Haven, discrimination will not be tolerated in the program.
The program at Strath Haven continues to thrive with full capacity for the class at the middle school. The production of Joya Nath’s play strengthens the growth of the arts program at Strath Haven.
“All of that really makes Strath Haven unique,” McGrath said. “It’s hard to find it anywhere else.”*
Ella Dibonaventura transforms her canvas with vibrant oil paintings
Gathering inspiration from her interests, Ella Dibonaventura uses oil painting as one of her creative outlets.
Josie Wieland ’26 Arts Editor
From project to project, senior Ella DiBonaventura is constantly expressing her artistic energy. Working with oil paint, however, is the medium she adheres to the most.
Dibonaventura’s love for painting has been apparent since her childhood and has grown exponentially from the early days of COVID. From there, she incorporated it into her life as one of her passions.
“It’s a great way to express yourself, and it can be therapeutic whenever I’m stressed or angry,” DiBonaventura said. “It’s a great way to take a break and do something you enjoy.”
Working with oil paint is quite different from other types of paint, but it can allow for stronger attention to detail.
“Oil is definitely the best way to strive for realism because you can blend the colors nicer. You’re allowed to make mistakes because you can cover them up,” DiBonaventura said.
Although the process of painting with oil has a lengthy nature, DiBonaventura has learned a lot about the importance of having patience.
“I wish I could say how many hours, but always a couple months,” DiBonaventura said. “ It just depends on how much time I have to draw it out. To actually sketch it takes probably one to two hours at least, not counting prepping the canvas I’m using. I’ll paint for two hours and have a fingernail done.”
Creating an original piece from start to finish is super fulfilling for DiBonaventura, and she has gotten better at it by taking AP Art and Design with Ms. Jennifer Rodgers. “I do use references a lot, but for AP Art, everything’s original,” DiBonaventura said. For the first piece, I took my own photo for it, but for the second piece, I just drew and painted it without using anything. That’s definitely helped me grow because it’s something I would always avoid.”
Through teaching her in AP Art and Design, Rodgers has been able to see DiBonaventura’s skills expand every day in class.
“She isn’t afraid to try new things with oil paint and is painting on interesting surfaces
and mixing materials in really unique ways,” Rodgers said.
Dibonaventura has a wide array of projects that hold special importance to her, but her collection of album cover paintings on vinyl records is a well-known and noteworthy aspect of her craftsmanship.
“The biggest jump of improvement in my art was my first final project, and I painted the album Man on the Moon by Kid Cudi. People call it the noodle man because it has all these squiggles. I painted it when I was 14, and I’m honestly so proud of it,”
DiBonaventura said.
With their shared love of painting, senior Luci DiBonaventura has always been supportive of her twin sister’s work.
“I genuinely think she’s one of the best artists I know,” Luci said. “Do I get annoyed at her for not cleaning up the art room? Yeah, but it makes up for it because she makes really cool pieces.”*
member
SAVE THE DATE! • Freshman Joya Nath’s play “Renewed” will be showcased by Philadelphia Young Playwrights at Temple University from October 29-November 3. PHILLYYOUNGPLAYWRIGHTS.ORG
FOR THE RECORDS • LEFT: An oil painting of Man on the Moon III: The Chosen by Kid Cudi on a vinyl record. RIGHT: An oil painting of To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar on a vinyl record.
IMAGES PROVIDED BY ELLA DIBONAVENTURA
PREPARING TO PAINT • Senior Ella Dibonventura poses with oil and paint in hand.
PROVIDED BY ELLA DIBONAVENTURA
College rowing commits raise question of whether Haven should reinstate club
The school-sponsored program dissolved after the 2021 season, sending dedicated athletes to find external club teams. Darcey Strachan ’28, Joya Nath ’28 Contributors
After the 2021 season, the Strath Haven Rowing Club was disbanded. Now, with current seniors committing to colleges for rowing, the question arises of whether a Strath Haven rowing club would be beneficial to the community.
The previous Strath Haven Rowing Club faced difficulties such as an overcrowded boathouse, lack of coaches, and lack of funds, leading to the club no longer feeling fully supported. Most club members eventually left for different non-school teams, leaving the team in fragments. Due to the rowing team being recognized as a club sport and not a PIAA sport, families were placed under a financial burden.
“Club sports are a little different than the PIAA sports. We support club sports, and we do help fund them to a point. So, a lot of that financial responsibility would fall back on the student-athletes,” Athletic Director Lynelle Mosley said.
Science teacher Mr. John Lincke’s daughter, Kai Lincke ‘22, participated in Strath Haven Crew and now rows at NCAA Division III Ithaca College. Lincke noted the lack of school funding.
“It wasn’t a school sport, it was the club, which means the school didn’t support it, so the kids had to pay all their own money for everything,” Lincke said. “There weren’t enough coaches, weren’t enough facilities. So the parents started looking elsewhere.”
Strath Haven had to share a boathouse with several other schools, and they did
not always get first pick for resources, such as space and coaches.
“Let’s just say, other schools, it seemed like they had the run of the place, and Strath Haven was always last place in terms of getting this and getting that,” Lincke said.
Hence, the club was disbanded. Haven rowers needed to find club teams, such as Whitemarsh Boat Club and Wilmington Youth Rowing Association.
Rowing supporters such as Lincke and student-athlete Emily Reilly think that reinstatement could create beneficial opportunities for students.
“I got into rowing through beach patrol. I had a lieutenant come up to me, and they were like, ‘You are really tall, so you should go into a boat,’” Reilly said. “So I tried it, and then I absolutely loved it. Then, I decided to try crew in the spring, and it stuck.”
This year, Reilly committed to the University of Delaware for rowing. Senior Elizabeth Hicks committed to Stanford for rowing.
A rowing team at Haven could further provide students with an in-house opportunity to row, rather than having to find external club teams. By being able to start as early as freshman year, it could help set students up for a successful future.
In addition to great college opportunities, Reilly explains how rowing is an environment full of connection, support, and strength.
“I’ve played so many sports, and I can’t
Pennsylvania sanctions girls flag football
Support for girls flag football in Pennsylvania could lead to a new sport at Haven.
Calpurnia Fries ’27
Contributor
On September 18, 2024, with support from the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers organizations, girlsgi flag football was officially recognized by the PIAA as a sport. Now, Pennsylvania is one of the 12 states to have recognized the sport.
Girls flag football has been established in a few local schools, including Haverford High, Interboro, Chester, and Bonner Prendie, as well as several Philadelphia schools. This movement originally started with the Philadelphia Eagles Girls Flag League but has grown rapidly in the state throughout recent years.
“I think it’s awesome,” Athletic Director Lynelle Mosley said. “Any opportunity that we can give studentathletes as a way to get active, get on the field, do something they love, I think is just a great idea.”
According to a survey done by the National Federation of State High School Associations, there has been a 63 percent increase in participation in the sport nationwide. In eastern Pennsylvania, 1,600 girls are currently playing it. This, and Strath Haven’s historically strong traditional football program, raises the question of whether girls flag football could be a sport at Haven.
“It’s a possibility. We have very strong lacrosse and softball programs, and track too, which is where a lot of our
SPIRIT • Senior (then junior) Jaden Hunter throws a football at the Powderpuff game on May 20, 2024. In this recreational game, boys varsity football players coached girls teams. PHOTO: RILEY SMITH
female student-athletes usually land, but I think that it’s something that we would possibly get off the ground if we had enough interest,” Mosley said.
Strath Haven has had developments in many female sports lately, including the addition of girls wrestling and golf. In general, Haven is cultivating a strong girls sports program, which could foreshadow a future for flag football.
“I think it’s awesome, having these opportunities for females and for them to just have another way to have an outlet,” Mosley said. “I’m a big advocate of sports. So, sports for any kid is a plus in my book. I think it’s just an awesome thing for sports and especially for females.”*
think of any other sport where the team connection has been so important as it is in rowing,” Reilly said.
Given all the positives, what would it take for Strath Haven High School to restart the rowing club? And, would anyone join?
“I think that things would be different,” Reilly said. “I think we would have a lot more people involved right now.”
Mosley would consider restarting the rowing program if resources emerged.
“If it came down the line and someone was like, ‘Hey, I have a boathouse. Can we get a program started up again?’ I would entertain the idea and figure out if it would be something we could do again,” Mosley said.
Other Central League schools offer rowing as a club sport, and the student costs can be expensive. Conestoga’s team dues are $2500 per student for the spring season and $1200 per student for the fall, according to the program website. Spring 2024 dues for Harriton High School were posted at $750.
Despite the cost, based on his experience, Lincke sees the value in rowing.
“You’re out on the river. You’re flying by. You go to race,” he said. “Everybody’s fit. It’s just super healthy.” *
Indian-origin families celebrate Diwali
Diwali is one of the biggest holidays in India, and around one billion people celebrate it worldwide.
Advaya Singh ‘27 Reporter
Pennsylvania is home to around 4 million people of Indian descent, including around 100,000 in the Philadelphia region. On October 21, Senate Bill 402 was passed, recognizing Diwali as a state holiday.
Diwali is one of India’s most celebrated holidays, celebrating the victory of good over evil. Depending on which region you originate from in India, there are many religious stories about this time of year. Many immigrant families carry and practice these traditions in the US. Diwali will be celebrated on October 31 this year.
Sophomore Lavanya Dixit celebrates Diwali by exchanging gifts, performing dances and songs with friends, and eating good food.
“We light these lamps called diyas, and they put one in each room of the house, and it’s just like symbolically, like spending like good around our house,” Dixit said.
This year presents a unique challenge for students as Diwali falls on Halloween. While some might consider this a difficult choice, students like Dixit are clear about their priorities.
“I’m going to be staying home, definitely for Halloween, because Diwali is a really meaningful thing to me,” Dixit said.
Sophomore Arav Rajesh also celebrates Diwali, but in a slightly different way because his family originates from South
India.
“There are different prayers that relate to probably originating in Southern India than there are in Northern India,” Rajesh said.
He also explained how you are not supposed to see the moon during Diwali, and the fireworks and lit diyas (candles) represent it.
Diwali, despite now being recognized as a state holiday, does not require schools to close, so balancing celebrations and school can be challenging.
“It’s honestly, especially with this time of year, something I’m doing out of school. [It’s] another thing I have to balance along with sports and academics,” Dixit said.
Rajesh is also cutting his Halloween “celebration” to come home early and light fireworks for Diwali. Fireworks are a huge part of Diwali, especially in India, and many families in the US also celebrate using fireworks.
Sophomore Rheya Singh also celebrates using fireworks, and she dresses up in traditional clothing.
“For girls, we wear either Saris, which you wear with a blouse,” Singh said.
Rajesh also explains that boys usually wear a Kurta, another traditional piece of clothing (a long shirt).
“It’s a lot of fun to be able to celebrate your culture and your festival with other people,” Dixit said.*
CAPTURING
ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT • Whitemarsh U17 and U16 girls practice 8+ practice rowing.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DELANI ROSE
New batting cages increase opportunities for softball
Haven’s new addition aims to boost participation and skills.
Matteo Ventresca ’25 Editor-in-Chief
Over the summer, Haven installed batting cages for the softball team in the back-fields of the high school.
The project was proposed at the beginning of 2022 and completed before the 2024 school year started.
According to Title IX, high schools are required to provide equal athletic opportunity based on sex. With batting cages for the baseball team in active use each season, similar facilities for the softball team were overdue.
“It doesn’t have to be perfectly the same, but there should be comparable options,” former Athletic Director Dr. Patrick Clancy said. “The lack of scoreboard and the lack of batting cages were two clear examples of that.”
The batting cages will allow the softball team to multitask during practices.
“We bought a new pitching machine for them,” current Athletic Director Ms. Lynelle Mosley said. “ When they’re practicing, they can send a couple of kids to the batting cages to work on stuff while [coaches] work on stuff with the other
kids in the field.”
Haven installed two lanes in hopes of restarting a junior varsity softball team in the future.
“We have not had a JV program in softball for about four years because of lack of participation,” Clancy said. “We’ve been hoping to get to that point where we have upwards of four teams: two middle school and potentially two high school teams. I felt like having two different lanes made sense so multiple teams could use that space.”
The materials for the batting cages and the softball scoreboard sat idle for two years as the district operations department addressed a backlog of maintenance projects throughout the district.
According to Clancy, the operations department has been working hard to keep up and improve school facilities with limited manpower.
“There’s only one groundskeeper for all of our athletic fields,” Clancy said. “One guy for something like 17 acres of field. It’s a lot for one person, and then that person
tends to be assigned to put together all the soccer goals and things like that as well.”
According to Clancy’s calculations, the 17 acres does not include Haven’s playing fields at NPE, Henderson Field, or CADES/Rutgers Avenue.
The cages will be open to the public for the foreseeable future.
“We always see people from the public come and use the baseball batting cage. If you’ve got a kid in fifth or sixth grade, you try to get them some batting practice,” Clancy said.
Senior and softball player Ella Liberi believes the batting cages will help the team improve team performance and
Haven welcomes new girls wrestling team
With the winter sports season approaching, some girls are looking forward to a new opportunity.
Lavanya Dixit ’27 Sports Editor
The PIAA voted to begin sponsoring girls wrestling as an official sport on May 17, 2023. With the sanctioning of girls wrestling as an official sport in Pennsylvania, students and staff worked hand-in-hand on bringing the sport to our own school.
This year, under the coaching of Tony Gilliano, Haven will now offer a girls wrestling team.
“For the past couple of years there has always been at least one girl on our boys’ wrestling team so [a girls wrestling team] has definitely always been something of interest,” Athletic Director Mrs. Lynelle Mosley said.
With that, interest in girls wrestling has continued to grow.
“We have a huge youth product that has around 30 girls on their youth team so it is definitely something that is on the rise,” Mosley said.
Sophomore Lane Harrington, one of the only girls on previous years’ wrestling teams, explains the challenges that come without a girls wrestling team.
“Before, it was hard. All of the guys had a great bond and once I got to the high school level it was really hard to compete with them because biologically they are different,” Harrington said.
To overcome these obstacles, Harrington has been pushing for a girls wrestling team. For her, communication was key for understanding and assisting the push for a girls team.
“My dad, my coach, and I, all talked to the AD [Athletic Director] about it,” Harrington said. “She was able to take further steps, we made sure everything was going through by constantly communicating with her.”
As for the technical side, Mosley explained that since the sport had been sanctioned, it was much easier to get the team started. The previous Athletic Director Mr. Pat Clancy had already developed a proposal.
“At the time, it wasn’t something that was jumped on because girls wrestling hadn’t been sanctioned by Pennsylvania yet,” Mosley said. “Once it got sanctioned we pushed forward to see if we could get it recognized here as a sport.”
Moseley presented the proposal to the School Board.
“Everyone from the top to the bottom was all in support of it so it was pretty easy to get it on board,” she said.
The interest meeting has already taken place, with a turnout of around a dozen interested girls, and the team is practicing
TOP • Throughout the halls, signs have been hung up to encourage girls to join Haven’s new girls wrestling team. BOTTOM • Girls wrestling is the fastest growing high school sport in the country, according to sanctonpa. com. Over 50,000 girls participated in high school wrestling in the U.S. during the 2022-2023 season. SOURCE: SANCTIONPA.COM
at open gyms each Wednesday night. Their season opens on November 11. The new team brings along opportunities to further success in wrestling at Haven by providing a more accessible option for girls interested in wrestling.
“I’m super excited for this team to be the first ever girls wrestling team at Haven. The group of girls that we’ve recruited are strong and I believe we will be able to build the team up more and more,” freshman Kai Czaplicki said.*
bonding.
“We can all work together and give each other feedback,” Liberi said. “That is really going to be a great space for us to communicate with each other and get hype before the game.”
Liberi wants to see her teammates improve their confidence in the batter’s box and get solid contact on the ball.
“Having the opportunity to have a more realistic game-type situation in that batting cage before you actually get out there and stand by the plate will be super helpful, especially to these upcoming freshmen that have never played at this varsity level before,” Liberi said.*
PLAYOFFS RUNDOWN
VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
“T his is a very special team, and I think that we got to where we ended up because of the uniqueness of our bond. I think it’s really easy to overlook how important it is to really be united as a team. I think what put us ahead a lot during the season was being that much more connected and united.”
-Senior captain Mali Rao
• PIAA District 1 3A Runners-Up
VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER
“O ur mindset is always to play Strath Haven Soccer. We can only control what we put on the field. We can’t control our opponents or refereees.”
-Head Coach Mr. Gino Miraglia
• PIAA District 1 3A Runners-Up
• Qualified for PIAA State Tournament—begins Nov. 5
• Defeated Archbishop Ryan (2-1) in first round of states on Nov. 5
VARSITY FOOTBALL
“W e have to go to practice Monday and keep getting better. A team that keeps getting better will keep winning.”
-Head Coach Mr. Kevin Clancy
• PIAA District 1 5A Quarterfinalists
• Next up: Panthers host Garnet Valley at home on Friday, Nov. 8
READ MORE ABOUT PANTHER PLAYOFFS AT SHPANTHERPRESS.COM *
NEW OPPORTUNITIES • The batting cages completed in the back-fields of the high school will be used by the girls softball team for the 2025 season. PHOTO: MATTEO VENTRESCA
CAR TALK: Senior shares memories with
Chevy Aveo
Katsapis describes how the car’s appearance and features have grown on her to allow her to have fun experiences.
Evelynn Lin ’25 Editor-in-Chief
Most people own a larger, more modern car with automatic locks, windows, and other features, but senior Paige Katsapis’s 2007 Chevy Aveo is different.
Also called “The Toy Car” or the “Rollerskate,” Katsapis’ car is small and has mainly manual features.
“It has crank windows, which I’ve actually grown to love. It does bother me a little bit when I really enjoy having the windows down, but then I have to put them up, and I have to reach over the seat and crank them up,” she said. “I have a little notch to adjust my mirrors. I have manual locks that I have to go to each individual door and lock them from the inside because if I twist the key on my driver’s side, it only locks the driver’s side.”
“I’ve been able to make this car my own by all the experiences I’ve had in it and being able to pick people up and drive people around.”
Paige Katsapis ’25
Katsapis got her car one and a half years ago when her mom’s friend had put it up for sale for $2500.
“She was offering it up for a cheaper price than a car dealer or someone on Facebook Marketplace,” Katsapis said. “It definitely wasn’t my first choice of a car, but a car was a car.”
Katsapis still found ways to use her car to create memories with her friends and personalize it.
“I’ve been able to make this car my own by all the experiences I’ve had in it and being able to pick people
Students
up and drive people around,” Katsapis said. “There’s also little toys in there from places I’ve been with my friends.”
For a car almost as old as Katsapis and older than her younger brother, junior Evan Katsapis, she is surprised that her Aveo is still functional and has had few problems while in her ownership.
“I was expecting it to have a lot of issues,” she said. “I was expecting it to be in the shop a lot and have to put a lot of money towards it, but it held up very well. I’ve only gone once to the shop, other than inspections, to replace my brakes, and that was only because my mom told me I had to.”
Katsapis hopes to continue using her car to have fun with friends and be independent during the rest of her senior year.
“Having my own car has given me a lot of freedom, and I’m very excited to also have the freedom that I obtained through becoming a senior to have all these other responsibilities that I have to handle on my own,” Katsapis said. “It gives you that independence already, so the two of those combined have made me feel more responsible and more grown up.”*
Does your car have a great story? Let us feature you. Email strathhavenpantherpress@gmail.com
share their opinions on new Menendez Brothers Show “Monsters”
The show is a hot topic of discussion at Haven.
Shannon Yue ’28
Contributor
Lyle and Eric Menendez were brothers, ages 21 and 18, who murdered their parents in August of 1989.
In 2024, their case was adapted into the second season of a Netflix show called “Monsters,” directed by Ryan Murphy. Due to its portrayal of the brothers and the alleged abuse they endured at the hands of their father, Jose Menedez, much controversy surrounds the show. Their mother, Kitty Menendez, was an enabler in the brothers’ abuse.
The Menendez brothers are serving life in prison without possibility of parole. Prosecution in the case claimed that they were seeking their family fortune, but the brothers maintain that their actions stemmed from fear of abuse.
Students at Haven have strong opinions on the case and the show.
Freshman Scarlett Rein is optimistic about the show and thinks the brothers were fairly represented. She hasn’t heard of the controversy surrounding it.
“There’s always the controversy of making a documentary about murderers and not talking about the families of the victims or who they are portraying. Other than that, I haven’t really heard of any controversy… I think it’s a really great show based on what I’ve seen so far. I mean, I’m not done yet but I think they were pretty fairly represented,” Rein said.
When freshman Fiona Seale watched the show, she had a differing opinion from the court.
“I don’t think they’re bad people for doing what they did; it was a reaction to what they were going through,” Seale said.
Freshman Mena Duffield is incredibly invested in the show and shares her opinion on its controversy.
“Well, to be completely honest, I feel that the show did an awful job to them.
The writer Ryan Murphy portrayed, specifically Lyle Menendez, as a sociopath,” Duffield said. “Both of the brothers had been abused by their dad, and the murders may have been in selfdefense since they were scared that they’d be killed if they didn’t do something…Like although I think it’s a pretty good show on its own, but to say it’s like a documentary, I feel it’s not like great at all.”
Duffield has a negative view of the show and believes the brothers were poorly represented.
On a brighter note, Duffield enjoyed the acting in the show.
“I would love to shout out to the actors who did an amazing job, specifically Cooper Coach who played Eric Menendez,” Duffield said. “I thought his acting was amazing.”*
Don’t spill the tea!
Sip it; it’s going to be hot.
With a semi-consistent low of 43 degrees, fall is here. And while the average sleep-deprived student lives off coffee, tea recommendations are here to stay.
Zoe Likely ‘25 Reporter
Ahot cup of tea and a cold classroom will do the trick. So, to coffee drinkers, open your eyes and try something new. Tea has so many benefits, like detoxing, reducing stress, and reducing skin inflammation.
Here’s a list of my and fellow peers’ favorite tea picks, the best way it’s served, and no, not just Starbucks’ fall season lineup.
Celestial Sweet Harvest Pumpkin
Senior Lucy Hewitt recommends a black tea with some popular fall flavors, the most notable being pumpkin, but also nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.
“I like how the tea creates a fall vibe,” Hewitt said. “I love tea.” Hewitt likes to drink this tea with wholegrain toast or pears during breakfast.
Chai Bubble Tea
Another senior, Katie Sheff, recommends a chai bubble tea from Kung Fu Tea. While it’s not cold, chai has become very popular in the U.S., originating in India. It is now making cross-cultural fusions like with Boba.
“I usually hate chai, but it doesn’t taste like chai at all,” Sheff said. “Every time I get it, I drink it in .2 seconds, and boba is fun.”
She likes to get boba with teriyaki beef rice balls and with friends.
Green Tea
My recommendation is not too fancy and not too boring. Green tea is known for its amazing benefits, but it can also just be served hot. My favorite part about it is that it is a good drink for fighting illnesses.
This article is dedicated to Georgia Gianopulos, an alumni who graduated in the class of 2023. She is an avid tea drinker and agrees that it should be given more attention.*
TRUE CRIME? • The intro title to the documentary ‘Monsters’ plays on a TV in a dark room. PHOTO: SHANNON YUE
VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE • Three tea cups sit with various tea bags on a kitchen counter.
PHOTO: ZOE LIKELY
TOP • Senior Paige Katsapis poses with her white Chevy Aveo in the parking lot near the orthodontist building.
BOTTOM • Katsapis has manual windows in her Chevy Aveo. PHOTOS: EVELYNN LIN
READING REVIEW:
Haven’s picks for fall season
Hear from four school community members about their book recommendations from the beginning of autumn.
Evie Fernandez ’27
Haven Happenings Editor
Junior Kazi Bhuiya recommends:
“Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman.
“[Anxious People] is about a lot of things, but it centers around a bank robbery and how it affects, like, all the people around it,” Bhuiya said. “[Anxious People] has a really big emotional impact, and that author, unlike any author I’ve ever read before, is able to really render emotions in a really cool, unique way and really bring meaning to situations that wouldn’t have meaning otherwise. I felt like that made the characters all feel very real.”
Sophomore Tilly Gebhardt recommends:
“My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult.
“The main character’s sister has leukemia, and her parents were obviously very desperate to find out how to help save their child, so they basically have another child in order to save the older sister by helping with the donation of blood and that kind of thing to help her sister fight cancer, and it’s kind of just about the morals of that decision. The younger daughter is resisting [her parents wanting her to donate] her body parts and stuff like that, so it gets very complicated,” Gebhardt said. “I just think that it’s such an interesting and tough subject to write about, and the author did it really well. [The topic] is just something I wouldn’t have ever thought of to write about or even read about.”
Junior Andy Waltman recommends:
The Watchmen series written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and John Higgins.
“It’s about these superheroes during the 60s and 70s, and it’s sort of like a more realistic way of how superhumans would have interacted with the world. They become illegal because [they’re considered] vigilantes, and vigilantes become illegal, and some of them become government agents. That’s the background, so it all happens before the book, and then one of them gets murdered– so it’s sort of a murder mystery,” Waltman said. “It was different than most of the other graphic novels I’ve read because it was more realistic. [The author] would kill off a character so fast you just didn’t see it coming, and they didn’t feel apologetic about it.”
I recommend:
“It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over” by Anne de Marcken.
This book follows a girl in the afterlife as she goes on a journey to rediscover her name and her past. The main character is a zombie, slowly falling apart on her journey to the other side as she learns to accept her death. She goes on to learn about the relationships she was a part of in the past in a beautifully unique, allegorical way. This book was so short but so profound, and the way that the main character considers grief and the feeling of squandering your time is so meaningful. This book will undoubtedly stick with me for a while.*
RECIPE RECOMMENDATION: Snicker Brownies
Decadent brownies are sure to delight.
Luci DiBonaventura ’25
Detours & Opinions Editor
At a recent Foodie Friends meeting, everyone brought different foods inspired by their favorite Halloween treats. Check out the winning recipie by senior Scar Kenyon below
Brownie Layer
For the brownie layer, a store-bought mix such as Betty Crocker’s brownie mix would be best since this recipe is more complicated. Follow the instructions accordingly on the box mix.
Nougat Layer
¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow fluff
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups salted peanuts
‘DIVE’ into summer vibes with Almost Monday
Have fun listening to this fun, energetic album!
Evie Fernandez ’27
Haven Happenings Editor
When Panther Press editors walked into the media lab after school on Wednesday, October 16, the last thing we expected was a package of ten posters from a band nobody had heard of.
And yet, there it was.
Naturally, the random gift prompted some research into the band.
Almost Monday is a San Diego-based indie-pop band mainly known for their song “Only Wanna Dance,” which has been heavily advertised on Hulu.
They toured with Joywave and The Driver Area in 2022 and opened for AJR on the Maybe Man tour. They released their debut album, Dive, in September of this year.
Add butter, sugar, and heavy cream to a medium saucepan. Stir until the mixture boils. Boil until the mixture reaches 246°F, for about 6 minutes. Turn off the heat. Stir in the peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, and vanilla. Stir until combined.
Pour over the chilled brownies. Place the salted peanuts on the nougat in an even layer. Place in refrigerator to let cool completely.
Caramel Layer
1 bag caramel bits
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
In a bowl, add caramels and heavy cream. Heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until thoroughly melted and combined. Pour over the nougat layer and let cool.
Chocolate Layer
Add chocolate chips and oil to a bowl. Heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted.
Pour the chocolate mixture over the top of the caramel. Let chocolate cool in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.*
Now, you probably want to know the answer to the question we were all thinking when we saw the posters: is the album any good?
My answer is a resounding yes.
The album starts with the title track, “Dive,” which features almost eerie harmonies and summery lyrics, but my favorites on the album are the tracks in the middle. The album really started to pick up at the beginning of “Is it too late,” when true indie-pop began to come out.
The tunes are energetic, fun, and full of summery energy reminiscent of past summer hits from Tai Verdes and Nicky Youre. The lyrics sometimes left something to be desired, but the good energy of the guitar, drums, and synth more than made up for it.
My favorite track on the album has to be “She Likes Sports,” even though, ironically enough, I don’t really like sports. The song has an amazing build and is just very catchy. It’s fun and energetic, and the lyrics reflect that.
The album was just a fun time—even my parents got into it. They are heading to the DIVE tour in February to see it performed live. Definitely tune in for a lighthearted, lively, summery listening experience.*
BROWNIES!!! • Snicker Brownies made by Scar Kenyon. PHOTO: SCAR KENYON
ALMOST MONDAY • The California-based pop band mailed ten of these posters to the school newspaper with no other information included. It worked. PHOTO: STAFF
November Crossword
Luci DiBonaventura ‘25
Detours & Opinions Editor
3. Poli-__ major
6. Adele split the Grammy for 7. Romeo’s first love interest
11. Dog that solves mysteries
13. Lots and lots of games
16. I ___ dare you
17. Steak source
18. Scary day for a turkey Down
1. Guest’s guest
2. Five in a row
4. small tool in a knife block
5. Sound of a kitty
6. Lose a staring contest
8. Season of the witch
9. Catapillar’s food
10. Marry in secrete
12. permanent body design
13. Wireless earbuds
14. Sign of air pollution
15. Small racing vehicle
CHEESE CORNER:
The moldy makings of Blue Cheese
This is the cheesiest column you’ll see in this issue!
Roland Rennick-Zuefle ‘27
Contributor
Welcome back to the Cheese Corner. I’d recommend getting a nose plug because we’ll discuss one of dairy’s most iconic (and infamous) products.
Few cheeses, or even foods for that matter, could have a smell as strong as blue cheese and still taste so good. This extraordinary feat and its history make blue cheeses like Point Reyes’ Farmstead’s Original Blue so special. Supposedly from France, blue cheese is the shockingly good result of cheese meeting mold. The process varies from cheese to cheese, but spores are thrown into the mix either before or during the formation of curds.
What results is a cheese covered with the titular greenish blue “veins,” which, coupled with bacteria in the cheese, gives it its notoriously strong odor.
The discovery of blue cheese is said to have happened accidentally when cheese was left in caves where harmless mold can grow.
Blue cheese is quite an international phenomenon. Although mainly associated with France, where the Roquefort kind was first discovered, researchers believe that mold and cheese forming together in caves can be traced back across caves as far back as 800 BCE in Austria’s Hallstatt Mine. But blue cheese has an even broader reach, including Italy’s gorgonzola and California’s own Point Reyes’ Farmstead cheese, which the Cheese Corner has
chosen to highlight.
Located by a bay just north of San Francisco, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. was established in 1958. It would win awards for its cheese and create California’s only classic-style blue cheese: Original Blue. With some assistance from crackers, I was able to try Original Blue and even turned it into a dip.
Original Blue’s overwhelmingly strong smell and taste gradually eased into the mouth by its smooth, soft texture. By the end, all left is a rich taste that resonates in the breath long after.
Those interested in blue cheese can check out kinds like Original Blue and more at places like Swarthmore’s 320 Market.
But be warned: That smell doesn’t go away for a long time or until you try another cheese.*
Freshman shares her bond with her two cats and two dogs.
Lavanya
Dixit ’27
Sports Editor
For this publication’s regular feature of the Critter Corner, freshman Adeline Constable talks about her special bond with her four pets.
Q. What are your pets’ names?
A. My cats are named Pockets and Buttons; there’s one girl and one boy. My dogs are named Colonel Basher and Evie.
Q. How long have you had them?
A. I got my cats three years ago, Evie two years ago, and I got Colonel Basher this year in August.
Q. How does a day in your life look with all your pets?
A. The cats are chill. They like to bite me and play, but they’re pretty chill. My dogs, well, they wrestle a lot. Both of them are still pretty young, so it’s a lot of separating them and making sure they aren’t eating everyone. They are pit bulls, so they can be very aggressive, but they’re adorable. I will walk them or feed them sometimes, along with my dad, who does the same. I have a younger sister; she doesn’t do much, but my parents definitely help.
Q. What is your favorite thing to do with them?
A. My cats, I love to play with them. They lay on my chest and I pet them, they’re really calming. For my dogs, I love taking them on walks. Especially at the end of the day, it’s just really calming.
Q. What are some of your favorite memories with your pets?
A. My cat, one of them, is so fat. His name is Pockets but me and my friends will call him Fattie. We’ll get them treats to get out of rooms and I’ve never seen him run so fast. He’s like the laziest cat and all the sudden he sprints towards any food he hears or sees. My dog, I don’t know if she means to but she will smile sometimes and it’s the cutest thing ever.*
DOGS AND CATS • LEFT: Constables’ dogs, Colonel Basher and Evie together. RIGHT: Constables’ cats, Pockets and Buttons cuddle together. PHOTOS: ADELINE CONSTABLE
MOLDY BLUE • Point Reyes Original Blue served with crackers. PHOTO: ROLAND RENNICK-ZUEFLE
Trump elected 47th U.S. president
Trump won 277 electoral votes and 50.7% of the popular vote, securing his win in the 2024 presidential election.
Kaitlyn Ho ‘26, Evelynn Lin ‘25
On election night, many people sat at home, eyes glued to devices as votes began to be counted. Many watched swing states, which influenced the election’s results, flash from blue to red.
Four crucial swing states were declared red by Wednesday morning, including Pennsylvania.
Republican Donald Trump won the 19 electoral votes for Pa., which was a key race in the election.
Kamala Harris received 61% of the popular vote in Delaware County.
On a statewide scale, the Senate and House seat, attorney general, auditor general, and treasurer were also up for election.
As of press, republican Dave McCormick is in the lead for the Pennsylvania Senate race. Republicans have won a majority in the U.S. Senate. The Senate votes on passing or vetoing bills, as well as overseeing the president.
Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon won the U.S. House 5th District, with
65% of the vote. As of the time of press, neither party has yet won a majority in the House. The House makes and passes federal laws. They are made up of representatives from each state, chosen by popular vote.
Republican Dave Sunday won the race for Pennsylvania attorney general. The attorney general is the state’s top prosecutor and civil attorney.
Republican incumbent Timothy DeFoor won the race for Pennsylvania auditor general. The auditor general ensures that state money is spent legally and properly.
Republican incumbent Stacy Garrity won the race for Pennsylvania treasurer. The treasurer oversees state funds and helps empower families, municipal governments, and nonprofit organizations with programs and services funded by the state.
This is an ongoing story as we send to press on November 6. The Panther Press plans to publish further coverage online at shpantherpress.com.*
Bye Bye” • *NSYNC “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” • Billie Eilish and more
1: Junior Eli Price fist bumps a preschool student in his full gear as sophomore Kathryn Barrett watches. Strath Haven’s volunteer firefighters visited the Little Panthers Preschool classes on October 17 to help students learn about emergency personnel and fire saftey. KELLY MONTAGUE
2: French Club members reach out for a shared chicken dish in the center of the dining table at the Marrakesh restaurant in South Philadelphia on the evening of Wednesday, October 30. The outing gave students a change to experience Moroccan cuisine, influenced by French colonialism, and expand their food palettes. ROXY SHELTON
3: Holcomb Prevention Specialist Sarah Dierckson speaks to Strath Haven High School students during a morning assembly on Friday, October 25, marking Haven’s recognition of Red Ribbon Week. Dierkson spoke on the dangers of drugs and alcohol and how they can impact mental health.
EVELYNN LIN
4: The Panther Marching Band was not the only Haven group represented in the Media Halloween Parade on October 26—Haven Cheerleading also brought the spirit. Senior Sophia Morris grins and waves as she leads the line. MATTHEW RAMIREZ *
